We, 90 delegates and observers of the Founding General Assembly of European Disability Forum deplore the unacceptable delays in implementing the two disability budget lines for 1997. This jeoparadises seriously our work to advance the human rights of disabled people and is in direct contradiction with the Commission Communication and Council Resolution on Equality of Opportunity for disabled people and the notion of "Civil Dialogue" and full partcipation of organisations of disabled people.

Since the Autumn of 1996 we have been promised dates for information on the 1997 funding programme and all these promises have been broken.

We are in the position that many of our European NGO members will be forced to make staff redundant, and cancel plans for work. In addition to the obvious pressure and problems for workers, disabled people at grass-roots level will be denied support for networking opportunities. The momentum for creativity and innovation in European disability projects will be shattered. Were this to happen to agricaltural workers or other groups, the Commission would commence immediate compensation measures. All disabled people get are empty promises 'to do our best'.

Whilst we recognise and appreciate the support demonstrated by Commissioner Flynn and his Directors in DGV, we are appalled by the prevailing attitudes and indifference to disability issues by other relevant Directorates within the Commission.

Despite the fact the 1997 budget was adopted in December 1996, it appears unlikely that disability NGO’s will access resources before December 1997. We demand therefore that the following emergency measures are implemented:

- the contract for the EDF operational programme in 1997 is processed immediately.

- the guidelines for NGO activity and pilot actions are released and disseminated

immediately in English or in French without translation delays.

- funding is agreed before 31 March for EDF Board members to enable them to fulfil

a vital co-ordinating/informing function, in accordance with the European

Parliament’s remarks on the budget.

- selection procedures for actions are steamlined and accelerated to ensure that NGOs

are notified formally in writing of the outcome of their applications by 15 June 1997.

- adequate human resources are allocated within the Commission to guarantee that

contracts are awarded with minimal delay.

- the necessary flexibility is demonstrated with regard to contractual periods,

recognising start-up work prior to formal agreement by the Commission.

- bank loan charges incurred because of delays in funding are reimbursed over and above

agreed activity funding.

Delegates to the Founding General Assembly are unanimous in their resolve that disabled people, as European Union citizens, will not tolerate further delays.

The EDF and members must not be blocked in their mission - to advance the human rights of disabled people. We want no more broken promises.

EDF Delegates to the Founding General Assembly

8^th March 1997