Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-11-15-Speech-4-230"
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".
Mr President, first of all I should like to congratulate Mrs Lynne not just on this particular report, but for her constant faith in and fight for policies for the disabled. I should also like to make a point of thanking Parliament for the support and enthusiasm with which it accepted the proposal for 2003. We need to make 2003 the year in which we send out a clear message that policies for the disabled are not just solidarity policies. They are not just humane or charitable policies. They are policies based on fundamental human and civil rights. The second important point is that 2003 should not just galvanise governments into action. It should also galvanise social and business circles and the scientific community into action.
Governments themselves should start up action plans for a package of policies. Transport, urban planning, special policies for the job market, education. Society should do everything it can, especially through the civil society and non-governmental organisations, to foster collaboration and take innovative initiatives which can be used as a basis for new proposals for the European Union. Business circles can also play an important part. Support for research and new product technology can bring about exceptional new products for people with disabilities and new technological products can be adapted to the specific requirements of different types of disability.
As Mrs Lynne referred to the Commission reports, may I inform you that only yesterday I started up my new web page, which can be read by Braille. 2003 should be seen as a year in which we push ahead with European priorities, such as those set out in the Commission communication on a "Europe without frontiers", while the individual Member States promote their national objectives, which differ from one country to another, given that policies for people with disabilities are at various stages of development.
I must say that I accept most of your amendments, in both spirit and letter. I should like to highlight the following points: first, I totally agree that we need to concentrate more on awareness-raising about various types of disabilities and the fact that some people with very serious disabilities are victims of multiple discrimination and, of course, the plight of those kept in institutions. The second important factor are the special policies on education and employment. Access to the job market depends on education and we need to focus on this. The third important point is the need for all the agencies involved to work together. We cannot propose and implement policies for the disabled. We need to work with their organisations so that we can present policies in which they themselves are involved.
We believe that 2003 will be the start of a new form of collaboration, a new type of innovative policy at European level for people with disabilities. The budget, which is EUR 12 million, is small but we should point out that it is not for implementing policies but to back specific events of local or national importance, the main function of which will be to kick start societies and organisations. I should also say that we believe that it makes sense to leave the funding ratio at 50% of activities at national level because this will allow for more events while, at the same time, allowing governments to take additional action in a range of policies.
May I again congratulate Mrs Lynne on her personal stand. I should also like to inform you that the Council will take its final decision on 3 December 2001, the same date as the European Day of Disabled People."@en1
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