91996E1314

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1314/96 by Richard Howitt (PSE) to the Commission (3 June 1996)

Subject: Successor to EU Helios Programme

Why did the Commission fail to present its proposals on the successor to the Helios Programme to the European Disability Forum meeting on 6 May 1996, as officials indicated it would do? If the Commission does not publish its proposals before September 1996, as it now indicates, how can there possibly be genuine consultation with disabled people's NGOs and within the budgetary process in the European Parliament, prior to the ending of the Helios Programme in December this year? Will the Commission therefore immediately publish its proposals in this respect?

Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission (6 September 1996)

The Commission was unable to present its proposals at the 6 May 1996 meeting of the European disability forum because its internal process of reflection and consultation was not sufficiently advanced to allow it to do so.

In the meantime, on the 30 July 1996 the Commission has adopted a communication on non-discrimination and equality of opportunity for people with disabilities setting out its overall strategy for achieving those objectives ((COM(96) 406 final. )). The development of that strategy will be the subject of full dialogue with disabled peoples' non governmental organisations and other interested parties.