European Union
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The European Union (EU) is currently a group of twenty-seven European countries. These countries work together to address issues that affect individual EU nations, the continent of Europe as a whole, and the EU's interaction with other nations and political bodies around the globe. On this page you will find information on the EU's work in mental disability as well as information about the structure and history of the EU.
In 1951, Belgium, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands signed the Treaty of Paris, establishing the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC). This initial alliance took place just six years after Europe experienced the massive casualties and destruction of the Second World War. The goal of the ECSC alliance was to create political and economic union between the war's rival powers with the hope of ensuring lasting peace on the European continent.
Over the ensuing forty years, the founding states of the ECSC welcomed many new members and signed several more treaties, strengthening the links between them. Ultimately, in 1992, the members of the European Community signed the historic Treaty of Maastricht on European Union. With this treaty, the member states agreed on new forms of cooperation among themselves, thereby creating the European Union as it is known today.
On May 1, 2004, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia joined the EU, bringing the membership to twenty-five. In 1997, in preparation for this major expansion, the existing EU Member States signed the Amsterdam Treaty, consolidating the Union and simplifying the EU decision-making process.
On January 1, 2007, Romania and Bulgaria became the 26th and 27th member states of the EU.
For more details of EU history, please follow the links below:
The EU is set up as a tripartite structure between the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission. Each of these bodies plays a distinct role in the functioning of the EU.
The European Parliament (EP) provides direct representation of the citizens of Europe. The 732 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) pass legislation and the EU budget. The EP shares these responsibilities with the Council of the European Union.
The European Commission (EC) is the political body representing Europe and is charged with promoting the interests of Europe as a whole. The EC drafts proposals for new EU laws, implements EU policy on a daily basis, and is authorized to spend EU funds. It is comprised of one person from each member state. EC members do not represent their respective nations; they are each responsible for certain EU policy areas.
The Council of the European Union (The Council) provides representation for EU member states. It is comprised of the ministers of the 25 nations of the EU. Attendance at Council meetings is based on the topic being discussed, and only the relevant minister from each member state attends any given meeting. Together with the European Parliament, the Council is responsible for adopting the EU budget and for adopting legislation recommended by the European Commission.
In addition to these three bodies of the European Union, four times a year the presidents and/or prime ministers of all the EU Member States gather as the European Council. They are joined by the president of the European Commission. The European Council sets overall EU policy and is the EU's highest level policy-making body.
Focusing on specific issue areas in Europe are the Directorates-General, or DGs. The DGs are EU departments created from among the staff of the European Parliament, the European Commission, and the Council of the European Union. Of primary relevance to questions of mental health and disability are the Health and Consumer Protection DG, the Employment, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities DG, the Justice, Freedom, and Security DG, and the Education and Culture DG.
For more information on European Union bodies and their work, please follow these links:
- The EU at a Glance
- Europe in 12 Lessons
- How the European Union Works: A citizen's guide to the EU institutions
- NGO Toolkit: European Parliament Elections (provides considerable general information on the European Parliament)
The European Union and Mental Disability
Over the course of its history, the European Union has taken various actions to combat discrimination within its Member States. Some of the work done in this area has been broad-based. For example, Article 13 of the Treaty of Amsterdam extended the powers of the EU, allowing it to combat discrimination on the basis of sex, race/ethnic origin, religion/belief, disability, age and sexual orientation. Three years later, the Council of the European Union used this Article as the basis for the Racial Equality Directive and the Employment Equality Directive, both adopted in 2000. These directives provided, for the first time, a common minimum level of protection against discrimination within the EU Member States. In 2007, the EU administered the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All - Towards A Just Society. The primary goals of the Year were to raise awareness of EU anti-discrimination legislation and to engage in dialogue and debate on discrimination-related issues.
While European Union institutions have provided broad anti-discrimination protections for Member States, the EU has also taken specific action in the areas of disability and mental health problems and intellectual disability.
More information about the European Union's anti-discrimination initiatives can be found on the anti-discrimination website maintained by the Anti-Discrimination Unit of the EU's Employment, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities Directorate-General.
Download the European Commission's Joint Report on Social Protection and Social Inclusion (2007)
Four key groups on disability exist within the framework of the EU institutions: The Unit for Integration of People with Disabilities, The Disability Interservice Group, The High Level Group of Member States' Representatives on Disability, and The European Parliament Disability Intergroup. Each group represents different elements of the European Community, though all share the goal of ensuring that disability rights are mainstreamed in the EU.
On December 3, 2001, the Council of the European Union implemented a decision establishing 2003 as the European Year of People with Disabilities. Goals of the year were to raise awareness about barriers and discrimination faced by people with disabilities and to work to improve the lives of disabled people. Building on the energy produced in this year, the EU produced Equal opportunities for people with disabilities: a European action plan. This "Disability Action Plan" covers the period from 2004-2010 and aims to continue the work begun in 2003, mainstreaming disability issues in EU policies and working towards equality and accessibility for people with disabilities.
Since 2003, the European Commission has observed the European Day of People with Disabilities each December 3rd by supporting national and European events. At the 2005 European Day of Disabled People conference held in Brussels, Belgium, the European Commission issued a Communication on the overall situation of people with disabilities in the recently enlarged European Union. This Communication outlines concrete recommendations for actions to be taken to improve the situation of people with disabilities during Phase 2 of the Disability Action Plan, 2006-2007.
While employment and social affairs have taken precedence for EU policies on disability, policies also exist across multiple-issue areas including: consumer policy and health protection; education, training, and youth; and human rights and fundamental freedoms. A complete list of all twenty-four issue areas involved is available on the website of the Employment and Social Affairs DG.
For more information on the EU's work in disability, please visit:
- People with Disabilities Web Page - Employment, Social Affairs, and Equal Opportunities DG
- Historical information on the EU and disability - Center for International Rehabilitation
- Open Calls for Funding for disability projects (also includes some non-EU sources)
Mental Health and Intellectual Disability
The European Union has taken multiple actions in mental health, many of which fall under the direction of the Health and Consumer Protection DG. Its mental health website provides a full list of mental health-related speeches, press releases, events, publications, links, key documents, legal documents and projects.
On October 14, 2005, the European Commission produced a Green Paper on Mental Health. This document does three key things:
- explains to the European Community why mental health is an important and relevant issue to the EU policy areas of prosperity, quality of life of citizens, and solidarity and social justice;
- suggests what actions the EU might take regarding mental health-related issues; and
- Recommends priorities for the suggested actions.
On October 24, 2005, a conference was held in Luxembourg to begin the consultation process on the Green Paper. The consultation process revealed overall positive responses and strong support for an EU policy on mental health. As a result, the European Commission is preparing a strategy document on mental health for adoption in the spring of 2007.
In 2003, prior to the writing of the Green Paper, the Public Health division of the Health and Consumer Protection DG established a Working Party on Mental Health. The aims of the Working Party are to support and encourage the EU's efforts in mental health. The Working Party promotes dialogue and provides information with the ultimate goal of promoting the mental health of European citizens.
While the European Union has addressed a wide variety of issues relating to mental health in Europe, its focus on people with intellectual disabilities has been more limited. Nevertheless, the European Commission has funded at least two projects specifically aimed at issues of intellectual disability. One project, Pomona (2002-2004), intended to identify the health indicators relevant to people with intellectual disabilities. This project was continued, and Pomona II (2005-2008) will continue the work begun by Pomona I. Similarly, the EC has financed several projects undertaken by Inclusion Europe, a non-profit organization which supports the rights and interests of people with intellectual disabilities and their families.