The European Ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has welcomed the Commission's efforts to facilitate the integration of people with disabilities. Among the positive measures he identified in a recently completed investigation are those to provide easier access to information via the Commission's website and to improve recruitment and promotion conditions. Mr Diamandouros underlined, however, that more should be done to sensitise the Commission's staff to the needs of people with disabilities.

The inquiry

People with disabilities constitute a significant proportion of the EU population. They face a wide range of obstacles preventing them from achieving equal opportunities, independence and full economic and social integration. In November 2003, the Ombudsman started an inquiry on his own initiative into the measures adopted by the Commission to ensure that people with disabilities are not discriminated against in their relations with the institution. In the framework of his inquiry, the Ombudsman consulted stakeholders, such as individuals with disabilities, representative groups, other ombudsmen at the national and regional levels, and citizens.

On the basis of his review, the Ombudsman acknowledged progress in a number of areas, including improved conditions for the employment and promotion of people with disabilities. He found that the Commission had made information and data more accessible, particularly via its website. The Commission has also improved access to its premises for disabled persons.

The Ombudsman, however, shares the view of many stakeholders that further action is still needed in other areas. He therefore called on the Commission to make its measures to promote the recruitment of persons with disabilities more transparent. He criticised the insufficient number of measures taken to sensitise the Commission's staff to the needs of people with disabilities. He also called for more financial support for disabled persons. Furthermore, the Ombudsman criticised the situation in the European Schools for pupils with disabilities as inadequate.

The Ombudsman will carefully monitor the Commission's efforts to deliver on its commitments to further improve its policies in this important area. Success in this direction will ensure that the voice of disabled citizens is properly heard by the European institutions.

To read the full inquiry, please go to:

http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/cases/correspondence.faces/en/3540/html.bookmark

 

 

For information about the case: José Martínez-Aragón, Principal Legal Advisor, tel. +33 388 17 2401