WRITTEN QUESTION E-1768/99 by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission. Situation of disabled staff at the Commission.
1. 8. 2000 EN Official Journal of the European Communities C 219 E/23 Reply (31 January 2000) 1. The current staff of the Office of the Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact is composed of: ü 3 Deputy Special Coordinators (nationals respectively of the US, Netherlands and Finland) responsible for the three Working Tables; ü An Envoy responsible for relations with countries in SEE (national of the FYROM); ü 1 Head of Cabinet (German national); ü 1 Advisor (Italian national); ü 1 Deputy head of Cabinet and Spokesman (UK national); ü 3 Aí grade officials for WT I (respectively Danish, Hungarian and Swiss nationals); ü 2 Aí grade officials for WT II (respectively French and Austrian nationals); ü 2 Aí grade officials for WT III (respectively German and Swedish nationals); 2. All Aí grade officials are seconded by their Governments to the Stability Pact office. Their salaries and personal living costs in Brussels are covered by the respective Governments. The Office has hired an accountant and four secretaries. Regarding both the A and B grades, the Office is not yet at full strength. The European Union has approved Joint Action 1999/523/CFSP of 3. the 29 July allocating EUR 850 000 for the period ending on 31 December 1999. The amount covers Mr Hombachís salary, the running costs of the Office and the travelling costs of members of the staff who are EU nationals. The Federal Republic of Germany has made no such promise; it does not bear the majority of the 4. staffing costs and does not provide the majority of staff members. 5. No individual EU Member State has indicated that it will not contribute to staffing costs. 6. The way staffing costs are to be financed in the next few years is to be decided by the Stability Pact participants. The Council would point out in this connection the leading role played by the Union in the Stability Pact, a role which it has requested during the whole process and which it is acknowledged to have by all participants in the Pact itself. (2000/C 219 E/030) WRITTEN QUESTION E-1768/99 by Jan Andersson (PSE) to the Commission (11 October 1999) Subject: Situation of disabled staff at the Commission I have recently received a copy of an open letter addressed to the President of the European Parliament. This letter, which has most probably already come to the Commissionís knowledge (failing which I can send a copy) describes the working conditions of a blind freelance translator at the Commission. The description of these working conditions makes it clear that the Commissionís efforts to improve the work situation of the disabled leave much to be desired. I should be grateful to learn the exact circumstances of this case. Will the Commission therefore comment on the circumstances as described in the open letter from the freelance translator, and describe the contents of the plans it surely has as a minimum for improving the working conditions and promoting the recruitment of people with disabilities? C 219 E/24 Official Journal of the European Communities EN 1. 8. 2000 Answer given by Mr Kinnock on behalf of the Commission (10 December 1999) On 22 September 1998 the Commission adopted a Code of Good Conduct for the employment of handicapped people (1). The code is based on the Parliament resolutions adopted on 13 December 1996 (2) and on the Council resolution dated 20 December 1996 (3) which invited all of the Institutions to integrate the principle of equal opportunities for handicapped people into their policies and internal practices in the best possible way. To achieve this objective the Commission Code focuses not only on selection procedures, but also on issues like career development of the people concerned and on practical aspects such as the accessibility of buildings. The author of the open letter to which the Honourable Member refers is a blind free-lance interpreter employed by the Joint Interpreting and Conference Service (SCIC). This service has some interpreters who are partially sighted or visually impaired amongst its permanent staff. In addition, the SCIC regularly uses free-lance interpreters who have a visual impairment. In general, the SCIC employs about 10 partially sighted or visually impaired interpreters. The SCIC tries to facilitate the exercise of the profession through technological measures (interpretersí work stations) as well as ensuring proper access to internal and external information. The Commission is active in trying to ensure improved opportunities and conditions of work for qualified people with disabilities. In pursuit of that objective, and in order to respond to more specific needs, the Commission established a Working Group composed of partially sighted and visually impaired staff on 22 March 1999. After defining the usersí needs, this Group will examine the products available on the market and then present recommendations. The Commission is committed to improving the situation of the staff concerned on the basis of these recommendations. Furthermore, to improve the professional perspectives for student interpreters suffering from this kind of handicap, the Commission is studying the possible opportunities for benefitting from the experience of teaching institutions in the Member States and from the exchange of best practices. SEC(98) 1559. (1) (2) R4/039196. (3) OJ C 12, 13. 1. 1997. (2000/C 219 E/031) WRITTEN QUESTION P-1770/99 by Marie Isler BØguin (Verts/ALE) to the Commission Subject: Railway route across the Pyrenees in the Aspe valley (30 September 1999) The route across the Pyrenees via the Aspe valley and the Col de Somport has for several years given rise to conflict between local civil society and the local communities and national authorities concerned as regards the mode of transport to be used. The road is being renovated and widened, whilst there is still an old, partly disused, railway line connecting France and Spain. In view of several protests and environmental considerations the roadworks were suspended and the national authorities, together with the European Commission, started to review the transport strategies and to consider giving priority to a rail link as part of the future trans-European network. However, work on the road was resumed in the valley on 13 September. In the meantime the European Union is already funding a feasilibity study on the rail link and the programme of the current presidency and the Commissionís strategic documents state that priority should be given to reviving the railways in Europe as part of a European long-term transport policy. Can the Commission explain why the roadworks have been resumed? Has the Union made any other financial commitments concerning the route across the Pyrenees going through the Aspe valley, apart from the afore-mentioned study?