Brussels, 06/12/2000 (Agence Europe) - 37 million people within the EU suffer from a handicap, be it motor, visual, hearing, mental/cognitive or physical problems. More than 50% of these people are unemployed compared with less than 25% for the rest of the population. What is Europe doing to improve this situation? This is the realisation made this 6 December, European year for the handicapped". This day has been organised by the European Commission in cooperation with the European forum for the handicapped. This year's themes is "Fight discrimination against handicapped people in the labour market". For this occasion, the European Commissioner for Social Affairs Anna Diamantopoulou indicated that 2003 will be proclaimed "European year for the handicapped", hoping that this year be that of exchanges of experiences and good practices. Mr Diamantopoulou called for all the parties concerned - political decision makers from all levels, administrative authorities, business circles, trade unions, health care professionals - to work towards acting in view of improving the daily lives of handicapped people, but also in order for people suffering from a handicap to be fully associated in the defining and implementing of this year.