93/136/EEC: Council Decision of 25 February 1993 establishing a third Community action programme to assist disabled people (Helios II 1993 to 1996)

COUNCIL DECISION of 25 February 1993 establishing a third Community action programme to assist disabled people (Helios II 1993 to 1996)
(93/136/EEC)THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Articles 128 and 235 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 63/266/EEC of 2 April 1963 laying down general principles for implementing a common vocational training policy (1), and in particular the 10th principle thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission (2),
Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament (3),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (4),
Whereas, in connection with the Community's social dimension, it is appropriate to adopt suitable measures to assist disabled people;
Whereas the conclusions of the Council and of the Ministers of Education meeting within the Council of 14 May 1987 concerning a programme of European collaboration on the integration of handicapped children into ordinary schools (5) and the resolution  of the Council and of the Ministers of Education meeting within the Council of 31 May 1990 concerning integration of children and young people with disabilities into ordinary systems of education (6) affirm the need to remove material barriers, to use  flexible education methods to meet individual needs and to facilitate transition to education, to working life and to adult life, to establish as active a policy of cooperation as possible with specialized institutions, to make use of the various  possibilities offered by new technologies with regard to education and to foster links between the family, the community, social and health services and the world of work;
Whereas exchanges of information and experience on questions common to Member States' education systems should be developed by means of cooperation between those activities so designated by Member States, while fully respecting Member States'  responsibility for the content of of teaching and the organization of their educational systems, as well as their cultural and linguistic diversity, and excluding any harmonization of the laws and regulations of the Member States;
Whereas this programme is designed to complement action taken at national, regional and local levels, in particular by ensuring an exchange of experience and information relating to such action;
Whereas the main responsibility for integration in the educational field, occupational and economic integration, social integration and an independent way of life for disabled people lies with the Member States but cooperative action at Community level  may help Member States to improve the effectiveness of the measures which they take in this area;
Whereas the Community Charter of the fundamental social rights of workers, adopted at the European Council in Strasbourg on 9 December 1989 by the Heads of State or Government of 11 Member States, proclaims inter alia, in point 26:
'26. All disabled persons, whatever the origin and nature of their disability, must be entitled to additional concrete measures aimed at improving their social and professional integration.
These measures must concern, in particular, according to the capacities of the beneficiaries, vocational training, ergonomics, accessibility, mobility, means of transport and housing.';
Whereas there is a need for a programme to cover a period of four years;
Whereas a sum of ECU 37 million is estimated to be necessary in order to implement this multiannual programme;
Whereas the amount deemed necessary is intended to fund the programme for the period 1993 to 1996, within the financial perspective of the European Communities in force;
Whereas, because this Decision is concerned, on the one hand, with principles for implementing a vocational training policy and on promoting employment and, on the other, with measures, including those to promote functional rehabilitation, educational  integration, social integration and an independent way of life for disabled people, which need to be adopted in order to attain one of the objectives of the Community, and the Treaty has not provided the necessary specific powers, it is necessary to  rely upon both Article 128 and Article 235 of the Treaty,