Brussels, 31/05/2001 (Agence Europe) - On the initiative of Anna Diamantopoulou, the Commission has adopted a draft Council Decision to make 2003 the Year of the Disabled. This initiative will receive EUR 12 million in Community funding, and is a response to the call for action for the disabled expressed by the European Social Agenda adopted at the Nice Summit in December 2000. The European Year of the Disabled will aim to raise public awareness about the rights of disabled people and encourage consideration, discussion and action in terms of the measures required to promote equal opportunities. The proposal adopted on Tuesday is based on Article 13 of the EU Treaty (anti-discrimination package) which requires unanimous voting and the consultation of the European Parliament.
The Commission has already achieved convincing results in integrating the disabled in the workplace by means of European Social Fund actions. The EQUAL Programmes for 2000-2006, which is being implemented by the Member States, includes one specific measure on action to tackle discrimination against the disabled.
According to Eurobarometer, 97% of Europeans support the adoption of extra measures to help the disabled become better integrated in society
The first Eurobarometer survey into "Europeans and the disabled" was published the same day as the draft Commission Decision was adopted. Some 16 000 EU citizens were asked to give their opinions and the survey covers their views rather than their daily behaviour. The survey's main findings are:
38 million people (10% of the population of the EU) are disabled;
more than 97% of EU citizens believe that access to public buildings and taking part in society remain very difficult for the disabled and more could be done to help them integrate into society. 93% believe that more money should be spent on eliminating physical obstacles faced by the disabled;
nearly six out of every ten Europeans know someone suffering from a chronic disease, a disability or a handicap among friends and family or acquaintances. One European in four has somebody disabled in their own family, while less than 2% of Europeans said they knew a disabled pupil at school and only 4% say that they have a disabled work colleague;
76% of European citizens believe that access for the blind and visually handicapped to the public arena is difficult (public transport, other public services, sports events, universities and schools, restaurants, hotels, cultural events, etc). The equivalent figure for people with learning difficulties is 73%, 71% for the physically disabled and 54% for the deaf. Nevertheless, 57% of Europeans believe that access to public places for the disabled has generally improved over the last ten years;
66% of Europeans believe that local authorities should be responsible for improving access for the disabled to public places. 55% feel that the government should be responsible, 30% focus on employers, 28% on voluntary or charity groups and 16% (5th from the top) believe it should be the European Union that is responsible;
57% of Europeans admitted to not having enough information about some or all of a series of 21 types of disability. At least 50% of the public were informed about only four disability groups, namely (in decreasing order): cancer (61%), asthma and diabetes (58%) and arthritis (54%). Nearly one European in four believes that 20% or more of the population of their country is disabled.