WRITTEN QUESTION E-0529/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission. Workplace equipment for blind switchboard operators.
21. 11. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 330 E/181 Does it agree that it is necessary to look into this delicate and important subject more closely by, for example, carrying out a comparative study of mobbing in the various countries of the European Union and examining possible solutions? What internal measures does the Commission intend to take in connection with the administrative reforms currently under way? Answer given by Ms Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (27 April 2000) The Commission agrees with the Honourable Member that this subject should be investigated more closely and, indeed, the Advisory Committee on Safety, Hygiene and Health Protection at Work has set up a working party on the prevention of violence in the workplace. The working document on this subject, drawn up by an institute at the Commissionís request, and a publication by the ILO (International Labour Organisation) on violence in the workplace, also presented to the working party, have been forwarded directly to the Honourable Member and to the Secretariat General of the Parliament. At its first meeting in October 1999, the working party decided to investigate the subject of violence in the workplace in general, including mobbing and sexual harassment at work. The working party is currently drawing up an opinion on this subject which is due to be discussed at the plenary meeting of the Advisory Committee planned for October 2000. On the basis of this opinion, the Commission will be able to assess the need for new Community measures to protect workers from violence in the workplace. As part of the reform of the Staff Regulations, Action 47 of the White Paper (1) on reforming the Commission expressly provides for the adoption of provisions to protect the dignity of the person in the workplace. With regard to sexual harassment in particular, which may be considered to be one of the specific aspects of violence in the workplace, in 1990 the Commission published a code of conduct for its staff, which was supplemented and updated in 1996. (1) COM(2000) 200. (2000/C 330 E/208) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0529/00 by Michl Ebner (PPE-DE) to the Commission (28 February 2000) Subject: Workplace equipment for blind switchboard operators The occupation of switchboard operator is one of the few employment opportunities available to blind people. As a consequence of advances in the field of electronics, switchboards are currently being manufactured in such a way that blind and partially-sighted people are no longer able to work independently and in the most effective manner. The new switchboards often do not permit blind people to identify incoming calls, lines which are not engaged, and the engaged signal for internal telephones, as such information only appears on a display suitable for use by people who are able to see. Blind people need to be provided with the information in an acoustic form or in a form identifiable to the touch. In order to ensure that blind and partially-sighted people continue to have the opportunity to work as switchboard operators, and are able to exercise their right to work, it is important for producers of telephone equipment to manufacture switchboards in such a way that they can be easily and inexpensively adapted for use by blind people. Do European directives or regulations exist requiring manufacturers to design equipment in such a way as to meet the needs of blind people? Does the Commission intend to duly examine this problem and to submit appropriate proposals for legislation? C 330 E/182 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 21. 11. 2000 Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission (17 April 2000) The Commission believes that developments taking place in the field of new technologies can and must be used in order to create new employment opportunities for the disabled, including blind people. In addition, the focus should no longer be on low-skilled and often repetitive jobs which do not reflect the vocational skills or motivation of the people concerned. impairment. Technology is now available to allow adaptation of telecommunication switchboards for people with visual impairment using standard flexible personal computer technology to interface with the operator. In addition, both software and hardware exists to increase the accessibility of computer technologies to those with visual It is therefore questionable to what extent it is necessary to impose additional technical specifications to ensure a higher level of adaptation for such equipment. Directive 1999/5/EC of the Parliament and the Council of 9 March 1999, relating to radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment (1) gives the Commission the possibility to consider whether certain classes of equipment need to be re-designed to facilitate their use by people with different forms of impairment. The Commission set up study groups (in which groups with various forms of disability were represented) to assess the requirements for applying this provision. As a result of the discussions the Commission concluded that, at present, there is no substantive justification to apply this provision, given that the barriers to access identified were not of a technical nature. Furthermore, under the Community policy on the standardisation of the Commission gave a standardisation mandate to the European standardisation bodies, namely the European Committee for Standardisation (CEN), the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation (Cenelec) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), with the aim of identifying specific standardisation needs in order to improve the integration of disabled people into the information society. the information society, Lastly, in November 1999, the Commission adopted a proposal for a Council Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (2). The proposal makes provision for equal employment opportunities, in particular by requiring employers, within reasonable limits, to adapt workstations for disabled people. (1) OJ L 91, 7. 4. 1999. (2) COM(1999) 565 final. (2000/C 330 E/209) WRITTEN QUESTION E-0530/00 by Brigitte Langenhagen (PPE-DE) to the Commission (28 February 2000) Subject: Implementation of the Socrates education programme that during the implementation of My researches reveal the Socrates student exchange programme problems with the recognition of certificates at partner universities have been caused by differences in academic systems. This appears to be especially true of exchanges between German and French universities. If the certificates awarded for such post-graduate courses were recognised, it would be easier to motivate young students to take part. As it is, they have the impression that the participants in exchanges fall behind in the achievement of their academic objectives and do not develop any interest in an exchange in the future. Can the Commission answer the following: 1. To what extent were the differences between the Member Statesí academic systems taken into account when the Socrates programme was being established?