(1)

The subject-matter of the proposed citizens' initiative entitled ‘Europe CARES — Inclusive Quality Education for Children with Disabilities’ refers to the following: ‘The right to inclusive education of children and adults with disabilities within the European Union’.

(2)

The objectives of the proposed citizens' initiative refer to the following: ‘Over 70 million EU citizens have a disability and 15 million children have special educational needs. Children and adults with disabilities are facing excessive barriers in exercising their right to quality inclusive education. Many are placed in segregated institutions and those in mainstream educational settings often receive inadequate support. We call on the EC to draft a bill on a common EU framework of inclusive education, which will ensure that no child is left behind when it comes to early intervention services, education and transition towards the labor market.’

(3)

The annex to the proposed citizens' initiative mentions specific areas to become part of a common EU framework of inclusive education, which can be categorised under the following headings: ‘Early intervention, habilitation and rehabilitation’; ‘Identification — Child Find — Referral — Upon Request’; ‘Free Adequate Public Education’; ‘No-rejection clause’; ‘Parents' involvement’; ‘Less restrictive environment’; ‘Individualized Education Plan (IEP)’; ‘Alternate evaluation mechanisms and abilities-based certification’; ‘Transition to labor market’; ‘Nondiscrimination’; ‘Personal development and training of the teachers’.

(4)

The Treaty on European Union (TEU) reinforces citizenship of the Union and enhances further the democratic functioning of the Union by providing, inter alia, that every citizen is to have the right to participate in the democratic life of the Union by way of a European citizens' initiative.

(5)

To this end, the procedures and conditions required for the citizens' initiative should be clear, simple, user-friendly and proportionate to the nature of the citizens' initiative so as to encourage participation by citizens and to make the Union more accessible.

(6)

The Treaties provide for the adoption, for the purpose of their implementation:

(7)

For these reasons, the proposed citizens' initiative does not manifestly fall outside the framework of the Commission's powers to submit a proposal for a legal act of the Union for the purpose of implementing the Treaties in accordance with Article 4(2)(b) of the Regulation.

(8)

Furthermore, the citizens' committee has been formed and the contact persons have been designated in accordance with Article 3(2) of the Regulation and the proposed citizens' initiative is neither manifestly abusive, frivolous or vexatious nor manifestly contrary to the values of the Union as set out in Article 2 TEU.

(9)

The proposed citizens' initiative entitled ‘Europe CARES — Inclusive Quality Education for Children with Disabilities’ should therefore be registered.