This survey was requested by DG Employment and Social Affairs, Unit E/4 and coordinated by Directorate General Press and Communication, Published in 2004, February

The European Union declared 2003 the European Year of Persons with Disabilities (EYPD) in order to raise awareness about the situation of its millions of disabled citizens. One of the key challenges of the EYPD campaign was to promote a wider understanding and acceptance of key disability issues.

In order to measure in part the success of this campaign, the DG Employment and Social Affairs (Unit E/4) from the European Commission requested a survey at a European Union level. The Eurobarometer survey was coordinated by DG General Press and Communication.

The report looks at EU citizens' view about disability issues with the starting point being that 2003 is the European Year of Persons with Disabilities (EYPD). Views are assessed across the European Union and results are based on a European Union level (where relevant), on a country-by-country level and a socio-demographic analysis which attempts to highlight both similarities and differences by various factors as gender, age, education, occupation etc.

The main data making up this report were gathered between 1 and 30 September 2003. Details concerning the technical specifications of this survey are included in the Annexes of the document.

As a general conclusion, the Eu-barometer survey has found that the awareness-raising campaign of the EU's disability campaign was a success, but there is still much to be done.

For the full document of the Eu-barometer survey, please use the links for the English publication and the French publication or consult the following website: http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/index/7002_en.html

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