BETA


2008/0171(NLE) UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: conclusion of the Optional Protocol

Progress: Awaiting final decision

RoleCommitteeRapporteurShadows
Lead EMPL JELEVA Rumiana (icon: PPE-DE PPE-DE)
Committee Opinion FEMM BREYER Hiltrud (icon: Verts/ALE Verts/ALE)
Lead committee dossier:
Legal Basis:
TFEU 218-p6a

Events

2009/12/02
   all - Additional information
Details

The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, amended the EU's two core treaties, the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (EC Treaty). The latter was renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU).

These changes had various consequences for many ongoing procedures. First of all, the articles of the TEU and of the old EC Treaty that constitute the legal basis of all the proposals founded on those Treaties were renumbered in accordance with the table of equivalences mentioned in Article 5 of the Lisbon Treaty.

In addition, some proposals underwent a change to their legal basis going beyond a mere change to their numbering, and this resulted in changes to the type of procedure .

The Lisbon Treaty also introduced new concepts of decision-making procedure . The old "codecision procedure" was extended to new areas and renamed the "ordinary legislative procedure". A new "consent procedure" replaced the old "assent procedure". New interinstitutional procedures were also set up for the adoption of certain non-legislative acts, for example the conclusion of some international agreements.

The ongoing proposals concerned by these changes were formally modified by the Commission in a Communication published on 2 December 2009 (COM(2009)0665).

In the case of the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty had the following impacts :

· the old legal basis – Treaty/EC/Art.13, Art.26, Art.47(2), Art.55, Art.71(1), Art.80(2), Art.89, Art.93, Art. 95, Art. 285, Art. 300(2) first para and (3) first para. - became Art 19, Art 31, Art 53 (1), Art 62, Art 91 (1), Art 100(2), Art 109, Art 113, Art 114, Art 338, Art 218(6)(a) of the TFEU. Please note that the numbering of the old legal basis corresponds to the consolidated version of the Treaty that was applicable immediately before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, and may differ from the references in the original Commission proposal ;

· the proposal, which had previously fallen under the old consultation procedure (CNS), was classified as an interinstitutional non-legislative procedure (NLE).

2009/04/24
   EP - Results of vote in Parliament
2009/04/24
   EP - Decision by Parliament
Details

The European Parliament adopted by 388 votes to 0, with 8 abstentions, a legislative resolution approving unamended, under the consultation procedure, the proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The resolution calls on the Member States and the Commission to report every three years to the Council and to Parliament on the status of implementation of the Optional Protocol in accordance with their respective fields of competence.

Documents
2009/04/23
   EP - Debate in Parliament
2009/04/03
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2009/04/03
   EP - Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
Documents
2009/04/02
   EP - Committee referral announced in Parliament
2009/03/31
   EP - Vote in committee
Details

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs adopted the report drawn up by Rumiana JELEVA (EPP-ED, BG) on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, calling on the European Parliament to approve unamended, under the consultation procedure, the conclusion of the aforementioned Protocol.

The committee also calls on the Member States and the Commission to report every three years to the Council and to Parliament on the status of implementation of the Optional Protocol in accordance with their respective fields of competence.

2009/02/24
   EP - Committee opinion
Documents
2009/02/05
   EP - Amendments tabled in committee
Documents
2008/12/18
   EP - Committee draft report
Documents
2008/10/22
   EP - BREYER Hiltrud (Verts/ALE) appointed as rapporteur in FEMM
2008/10/06
   EP - JELEVA Rumiana (PPE-DE) appointed as rapporteur in EMPL
2008/09/02
   EC - Legislative proposal published
Details

PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Community, an Optional Protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.

BACKGROUND: the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (see CNS/2008/0170 ) and this Optional Protocol were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2006. On the basis of negotiating directives adopted by the Council, the Commission conducted the negotiation of the Convention on behalf of the European Community, leading to this proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. The Council Decision dated 27 March 2007 ( ST07404/07 ) authorised the Community to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and issued a declaration on the Optional Protocol (Annex II of the Decision) stating that the Council of the European Union shall reconsider the question of signing the Optional Protocol to the Convention by the European Community as soon as possible. The Commission finally signed the Convention on 30 March 2007.

On 3 May 2008, the Convention and its Optional Protocol entered into force. Since the Optional Protocol has not yet been signed, its accession should be proposed. Two proposals, one for concluding the Convention, the other for acceding to the Optional Protocol, are therefore required.

CONTENT: the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities establishes that all State Parties, including the European Community, shall recognise the competence of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals who claim to be victims of a violation by that State Party of the provisions of the Convention.

In this respect, the Protocol establishes a specific procedure for receiving possible communications from these persons and for ensuring that the State criticised for not respecting the rights of persons with disabilities can give an appropriate response.

The Protocol defines the powers and competences of the Committee in question, including the power to bring any communications submitted to it confidentially to the attention of the State Party. It can also call on the State concerned to take interim measures to avoid possible irreparable damage to the victim or victims of the alleged violation and to submit explanations clarifying the matter within six months. The State concerned may also be called upon to define measures taken to remedy the situation.

Furthermore, if the Committee receives reliable information indicating grave or systematic violations by a State Party of rights set forth in the Convention, the Committee shall invite that State Party to submit specific observations. The Committee may also be required to conduct an inquiry regarding this State, in terms of the violations highlighted, which may even include a visit to the territory of the State.

Note, however, that a State Party may, at the time of signature or ratification of the Protocol or accession thereto, declare that it does not recognise the competence of the Committee provided for in the Protocol with regards to inquiries, following a communication that would have been submitted to it (articles 6 and 7 of the Protocol).

Legal basis and mixed powers of the EC and Member States : articles 13, 26, 47(2), 55, 71(1), 80(2), 89, 93, 95 and 285 in conjunction with the second sentence of the first paragraph of Article 300(2), and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Community are chosen as the legal basis. This requires consultation of the European Parliament .

It is also important to note the application of the principle of subsidiarity to this text, owing to the mixed nature of the powers assigned by the UN Convention and its Optional Protocol. As both Community and Member States' powers are concerned, joint conclusion/ratification of the Convention by the Community and the Member States is required.

Lastly, note a declaration of the European Community on the competences transferred to the Community by the Member States, under the Treaty establishing the European Community, in the areas covered by the Convention, a series of powers are devolved to the Community to enable the implementation of the principles set out in the Convention. The declaration cites, in this case, the list of all Community texts applicable in this area. The only reservation of the European Community concerns Article 27.1 of the Convention regarding non-discrimination in employment. In accordance with Council Directive 2000/78/EC on equal treatment in employment and occupation, the Member States shall be given the possibility to provide that the Directive, in so far as it relates to discrimination on the grounds of disability, shall not apply to the armed forces. Therefore, the Committee established by the Optional Protocol would not have any powers in this particular area.

Documents

History

(these mark the time of scraping, not the official date of the change)

links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
links/National parliaments/url
Old
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/NLE-2008-0171
docs/0
date
2008-09-02T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
EC
events/0/date
Old
2008-09-01T00:00:00
New
2008-09-02T00:00:00
links/National parliaments/url
Old
http://www.ipex.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/dossier.do?code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
New
https://ipexl.europarl.europa.eu/IPEXL-WEB/dossier/code=NLE&year=2008&number=0171&appLng=EN
docs/0
date
2008-09-02T00:00:00
docs
summary
type
Legislative proposal
body
EC
events/0/date
Old
2008-09-02T00:00:00
New
2008-09-01T00:00:00
docs/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/FEMM-AD-418159_EN.html
docs/2/docs/0/url
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE418.159&secondRef=02
events/1/body
EP
events/2/body
EP
events/6/body
EP
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE415.259
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=PE415.259
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE418.418
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=PE418.418
events/1
date
2009-03-31T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee
summary
events/1
date
2009-03-31T00:00:00
type
Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
summary
events/2
date
2009-04-02T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament
events/2
date
2009-04-02T00:00:00
type
Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090423&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=20090423&type=CRE
events/6
date
2009-04-24T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2009-0313_EN.html title: T6-0313/2009
summary
events/6
date
2009-04-24T00:00:00
type
Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading
body
EP
docs
url: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2009-0313_EN.html title: T6-0313/2009
summary
docs/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE415.259
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE415.259
docs/1/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE418.418
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE418.418
docs/2/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE418.159&secondRef=02
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE418.159&secondRef=02
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2009-0230_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2009-0230_EN.html
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2009-0230_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2009-0230_EN.html
events/4/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090423&type=CRE
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090423&type=CRE
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2009-0313_EN.html
New
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2009-0313_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A6-2009-230&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2009-0230_EN.html
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A6-2009-230&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-6-2009-0230_EN.html
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=P6-TA-2009-313
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-6-2009-0313_EN.html
docs/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2009-230&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A6-2009-230&language=EN
events/3/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2009-230&language=EN
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A6-2009-230&language=EN
events/6/docs/0/url
Old
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2009-313
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/EN&reference=P6-TA-2009-313
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
rapporteur
name: JELEVA Rumiana date: 2008-10-06T00:00:00 group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats abbr: PPE-DE
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
date
2008-10-06T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: JELEVA Rumiana group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats abbr: PPE-DE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Women's Rights and Gender Equality
committee
FEMM
rapporteur
name: BREYER Hiltrud date: 2008-10-22T00:00:00 group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Women's Rights and Gender Equality
committee
FEMM
date
2008-10-22T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: BREYER Hiltrud group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
activities
  • date: 2008-09-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2008/0530/COM_COM(2008)0530(COR1)_EN.pdf title: COM(2008)0530 type: Legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52008PC0530(02):EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/employment-social-affairs-and-inclusion_en title: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner: ANDOR László type: Legislative proposal published
  • date: 2009-03-31T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: EMPL date: 2008-10-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: JELEVA Rumiana body: EP responsible: False committee: FEMM date: 2008-10-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Women's Rights and Gender Equality rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: BREYER Hiltrud type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2009-04-02T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: EMPL date: 2008-10-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: JELEVA Rumiana body: EP responsible: False committee: FEMM date: 2008-10-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Women's Rights and Gender Equality rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: BREYER Hiltrud
  • date: 2009-04-03T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2009-230&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A6-0230/2009 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: EMPL date: 2008-10-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: JELEVA Rumiana body: EP responsible: False committee: FEMM date: 2008-10-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Women's Rights and Gender Equality rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: BREYER Hiltrud type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2009-04-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090423&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2009-04-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17106&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2009-313 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0313/2009 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2009-12-02T00:00:00 body: all type: Additional information
commission
  • body: EC dg: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion commissioner: ANDOR László
committees/0
type
Responsible Committee
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
committee
EMPL
date
2008-10-06T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: JELEVA Rumiana group: European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats abbr: PPE-DE
committees/0
body
EP
responsible
True
committee
EMPL
date
2008-10-06T00:00:00
committee_full
Employment and Social Affairs
rapporteur
group: PPE-DE name: JELEVA Rumiana
committees/1
type
Committee Opinion
body
EP
associated
False
committee_full
Women's Rights and Gender Equality
committee
FEMM
date
2008-10-22T00:00:00
rapporteur
name: BREYER Hiltrud group: Greens/European Free Alliance abbr: Verts/ALE
committees/1
body
EP
responsible
False
committee
FEMM
date
2008-10-22T00:00:00
committee_full
Women's Rights and Gender Equality
rapporteur
group: Verts/ALE name: BREYER Hiltrud
docs
  • date: 2008-12-18T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE415.259 title: PE415.259 type: Committee draft report body: EP
  • date: 2009-02-05T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE418.418 title: PE418.418 type: Amendments tabled in committee body: EP
  • date: 2009-02-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=COMPARL&mode=XML&language=EN&reference=PE418.159&secondRef=02 title: PE418.159 committee: FEMM type: Committee opinion body: EP
  • date: 2009-04-03T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2009-230&language=EN title: A6-0230/2009 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
events
  • date: 2008-09-02T00:00:00 type: Legislative proposal published body: EC docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2008/0530/COM_COM(2008)0530(COR1)_EN.pdf title: COM(2008)0530 url: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2008&nu_doc=530 title: EUR-Lex summary: PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Community, an Optional Protocol of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision. BACKGROUND: the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (see CNS/2008/0170 ) and this Optional Protocol were adopted by the UN General Assembly on 13 December 2006. On the basis of negotiating directives adopted by the Council, the Commission conducted the negotiation of the Convention on behalf of the European Community, leading to this proposal for a Council Decision on the signing, on behalf of the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol. The Council Decision dated 27 March 2007 ( ST07404/07 ) authorised the Community to sign the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and issued a declaration on the Optional Protocol (Annex II of the Decision) stating that the Council of the European Union shall reconsider the question of signing the Optional Protocol to the Convention by the European Community as soon as possible. The Commission finally signed the Convention on 30 March 2007. On 3 May 2008, the Convention and its Optional Protocol entered into force. Since the Optional Protocol has not yet been signed, its accession should be proposed. Two proposals, one for concluding the Convention, the other for acceding to the Optional Protocol, are therefore required. CONTENT: the Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities establishes that all State Parties, including the European Community, shall recognise the competence of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to receive and consider communications from or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals who claim to be victims of a violation by that State Party of the provisions of the Convention. In this respect, the Protocol establishes a specific procedure for receiving possible communications from these persons and for ensuring that the State criticised for not respecting the rights of persons with disabilities can give an appropriate response. The Protocol defines the powers and competences of the Committee in question, including the power to bring any communications submitted to it confidentially to the attention of the State Party. It can also call on the State concerned to take interim measures to avoid possible irreparable damage to the victim or victims of the alleged violation and to submit explanations clarifying the matter within six months. The State concerned may also be called upon to define measures taken to remedy the situation. Furthermore, if the Committee receives reliable information indicating grave or systematic violations by a State Party of rights set forth in the Convention, the Committee shall invite that State Party to submit specific observations. The Committee may also be required to conduct an inquiry regarding this State, in terms of the violations highlighted, which may even include a visit to the territory of the State. Note, however, that a State Party may, at the time of signature or ratification of the Protocol or accession thereto, declare that it does not recognise the competence of the Committee provided for in the Protocol with regards to inquiries, following a communication that would have been submitted to it (articles 6 and 7 of the Protocol). Legal basis and mixed powers of the EC and Member States : articles 13, 26, 47(2), 55, 71(1), 80(2), 89, 93, 95 and 285 in conjunction with the second sentence of the first paragraph of Article 300(2), and the first subparagraph of Article 300(3) of the Treaty establishing the European Community are chosen as the legal basis. This requires consultation of the European Parliament . It is also important to note the application of the principle of subsidiarity to this text, owing to the mixed nature of the powers assigned by the UN Convention and its Optional Protocol. As both Community and Member States' powers are concerned, joint conclusion/ratification of the Convention by the Community and the Member States is required. Lastly, note a declaration of the European Community on the competences transferred to the Community by the Member States, under the Treaty establishing the European Community, in the areas covered by the Convention, a series of powers are devolved to the Community to enable the implementation of the principles set out in the Convention. The declaration cites, in this case, the list of all Community texts applicable in this area. The only reservation of the European Community concerns Article 27.1 of the Convention regarding non-discrimination in employment. In accordance with Council Directive 2000/78/EC on equal treatment in employment and occupation, the Member States shall be given the possibility to provide that the Directive, in so far as it relates to discrimination on the grounds of disability, shall not apply to the armed forces. Therefore, the Committee established by the Optional Protocol would not have any powers in this particular area.
  • date: 2009-03-31T00:00:00 type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading body: EP summary: The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs adopted the report drawn up by Rumiana JELEVA (EPP-ED, BG) on the proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, calling on the European Parliament to approve unamended, under the consultation procedure, the conclusion of the aforementioned Protocol. The committee also calls on the Member States and the Commission to report every three years to the Council and to Parliament on the status of implementation of the Optional Protocol in accordance with their respective fields of competence.
  • date: 2009-04-02T00:00:00 type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP
  • date: 2009-04-03T00:00:00 type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2009-230&language=EN title: A6-0230/2009
  • date: 2009-04-23T00:00:00 type: Debate in Parliament body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090423&type=CRE title: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2009-04-24T00:00:00 type: Results of vote in Parliament body: EP docs: url: https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17106&l=en title: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2009-04-24T00:00:00 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading body: EP docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2009-313 title: T6-0313/2009 summary: The European Parliament adopted by 388 votes to 0, with 8 abstentions, a legislative resolution approving unamended, under the consultation procedure, the proposal for a Council decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The resolution calls on the Member States and the Commission to report every three years to the Council and to Parliament on the status of implementation of the Optional Protocol in accordance with their respective fields of competence.
  • date: 2009-12-02T00:00:00 type: Additional information body: all summary: The Lisbon Treaty, which entered into force on 1 December 2009, amended the EU's two core treaties, the Treaty on European Union (TEU) and the Treaty establishing the European Community (EC Treaty). The latter was renamed the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). These changes had various consequences for many ongoing procedures. First of all, the articles of the TEU and of the old EC Treaty that constitute the legal basis of all the proposals founded on those Treaties were renumbered in accordance with the table of equivalences mentioned in Article 5 of the Lisbon Treaty. In addition, some proposals underwent a change to their legal basis going beyond a mere change to their numbering, and this resulted in changes to the type of procedure . The Lisbon Treaty also introduced new concepts of decision-making procedure . The old "codecision procedure" was extended to new areas and renamed the "ordinary legislative procedure". A new "consent procedure" replaced the old "assent procedure". New interinstitutional procedures were also set up for the adoption of certain non-legislative acts, for example the conclusion of some international agreements. The ongoing proposals concerned by these changes were formally modified by the Commission in a Communication published on 2 December 2009 (COM(2009)0665). In the case of the proposal for a Council Decision concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the Optional Protocol to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty had the following impacts : · the old legal basis – Treaty/EC/Art.13, Art.26, Art.47(2), Art.55, Art.71(1), Art.80(2), Art.89, Art.93, Art. 95, Art. 285, Art. 300(2) first para and (3) first para. - became Art 19, Art 31, Art 53 (1), Art 62, Art 91 (1), Art 100(2), Art 109, Art 113, Art 114, Art 338, Art 218(6)(a) of the TFEU. Please note that the numbering of the old legal basis corresponds to the consolidated version of the Treaty that was applicable immediately before the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, and may differ from the references in the original Commission proposal ; · the proposal, which had previously fallen under the old consultation procedure (CNS), was classified as an interinstitutional non-legislative procedure (NLE).
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/employment-social-affairs-and-inclusion_en title: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion commissioner: ANDOR László
procedure/dossier_of_the_committee
Old
EMPL/6/66577
New
  • EMPL/6/66577
procedure/instrument
Old
Decision
New
  • Decision
  • See also 2008/0170(NLE)
procedure/subject
Old
  • 4.10.06 People with disabilities
  • 6.40.13 Relations with/in the context of international organisations: UN, OSCE, OECD, Council of Europe, EBRD
New
4.10.06
People with disabilities
6.40.13
Relations with/in the context of international organisations: UN, OSCE, OECD, Council of Europe, EBRD
procedure/summary
  • See also
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52008PC0530(02):EN
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52008PC0530(02):EN
activities/0/commission/0/DG/url
Old
http://ec.europa.eu/social/
New
http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/employment-social-affairs-and-inclusion_en
other/0/dg/url
Old
http://ec.europa.eu/social/
New
http://ec.europa.eu/info/departments/employment-social-affairs-and-inclusion_en
procedure/instrument
Decision
procedure/subtype
Consent by Parliament
procedure/instrument
Decision
procedure/subtype
Consent by Parliament
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52008PC0530(02):EN
procedure/summary
  • See also
activities/0/docs/0/url
Old
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2008&nu_doc=530
New
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2008/0530/COM_COM(2008)0530(COR1)_EN.pdf
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
CELEX:52008PC0530(02):EN
procedure/subject/0
Old
4.10.06 Disabled people
New
4.10.06 People with disabilities
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
Old
CELEX:52008PC0530:EN
New
CELEX:52008PC0530(02):EN
activities/0/docs/0/celexid
Old
CELEX:52008PC0530(02):EN
New
CELEX:52008PC0530:EN
activities
  • date: 2008-09-02T00:00:00 docs: url: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexplus!prod!DocNumber&lg=EN&type_doc=COMfinal&an_doc=2008&nu_doc=530 title: COM(2008)0530 type: Legislative proposal published celexid: CELEX:52008PC0530(02):EN body: EC commission: DG: url: http://ec.europa.eu/social/ title: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion Commissioner: ANDOR László type: Legislative proposal published
  • date: 2009-03-31T00:00:00 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: EMPL date: 2008-10-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: JELEVA Rumiana body: EP responsible: False committee: FEMM date: 2008-10-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Women's Rights and Gender Equality rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: BREYER Hiltrud type: Vote in committee, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2009-04-02T00:00:00 body: EP type: Committee referral announced in Parliament, 1st reading/single reading committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: EMPL date: 2008-10-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: JELEVA Rumiana body: EP responsible: False committee: FEMM date: 2008-10-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Women's Rights and Gender Equality rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: BREYER Hiltrud
  • date: 2009-04-03T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A6-2009-230&language=EN type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading title: A6-0230/2009 body: EP committees: body: EP responsible: True committee: EMPL date: 2008-10-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: JELEVA Rumiana body: EP responsible: False committee: FEMM date: 2008-10-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Women's Rights and Gender Equality rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: BREYER Hiltrud type: Committee report tabled for plenary, 1st reading/single reading
  • date: 2009-04-23T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?secondRef=TOC&language=EN&reference=20090423&type=CRE type: Debate in Parliament title: Debate in Parliament body: EP type: Debate in Parliament
  • date: 2009-04-24T00:00:00 docs: url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/sda.do?id=17106&l=en type: Results of vote in Parliament title: Results of vote in Parliament url: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&language=EN&reference=P6-TA-2009-313 type: Decision by Parliament, 1st reading/single reading title: T6-0313/2009 body: EP type: Results of vote in Parliament
  • date: 2009-12-02T00:00:00 body: all type: Additional information
committees
  • body: EP responsible: True committee: EMPL date: 2008-10-06T00:00:00 committee_full: Employment and Social Affairs rapporteur: group: PPE-DE name: JELEVA Rumiana
  • body: EP responsible: False committee: FEMM date: 2008-10-22T00:00:00 committee_full: Women's Rights and Gender Equality rapporteur: group: Verts/ALE name: BREYER Hiltrud
links
National parliaments
other
  • body: EC dg: url: http://ec.europa.eu/social/ title: Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion commissioner: ANDOR László
procedure
dossier_of_the_committee
EMPL/6/66577
reference
2008/0171(NLE)
subtype
Consent by Parliament
legal_basis
Treaty on the Functioning of the EU TFEU 218-p6a
stage_reached
Awaiting final decision
instrument
Decision
title
UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities: conclusion of the Optional Protocol
type
NLE - Non-legislative enactments
subject