Brussels, 20/11/2001 (Agence Europe) - By adopting, in the presence of a interpreter for the deaf, the report by the British Liberal Democrat and Vice-President of the EP Handicaps Intergroup, Elizabeth Lynne, on the proposed decision relating to the European Year for Handicapped Persons 2003, the European Parliament called on the Commission to submit a draft Directive specifically related to handicaps on the basis of Article 13 of the Treaty (which concerns the fight against discriminations) as well as a proposal on a specific action programme targeting handicapped persons. This programme should begin in 2004 and guarantee the extension of the works begun in 2003 and ensure the co-ordination of policies relating to the handicapped within the Member States. Moreover, the Parliament notably requests that: - the budget granted to the European year (in 2002 and 2003) is EUR15 million; - the measures of a Community scope are subsidies to the level of 90% (instead of the 80% proposed by the European Commission), and local, regional, national or transnational measures to total 60% (against 50%).
Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou, the President of the EP Handicap Intergroup Richard Howitt and the President of the European Forum for the handicapped (EDF) Yannis Vardakstania welcomed the EP's position. A final decision should be adopted during the Social Council session on 3 December.