 that everyone is in favour of giving passengers with restricted mobility their rights as well. However, when it is a question of who receives preferential treatment and of a possible reduction in operators' profits, then the answer is a definite no. In this case, it is made quite clear that the focus is not on disabled people. This situation must change.
Mrs Wortmann-Kool says that the problem lies with the small operators, but this is not true. The large companies have lobbied on this issue and were opposed to the solution. They are using the small operators as a pretext to protect their interests. We could come to a compromise for the small operators, but from an overall perspective, we must tackle the large organisations. They are not prepared to show any consideration for passengers with restricted mobility. This is unacceptable. These passengers must have the same rights as everyone else. We should be grateful that we do not have restricted mobility ourselves and, therefore, we should show our solidarity with those people who do.
Philippe Juvin
(FR) Mr President, it is clear that these are not perfect texts. It is clear that one MEP or another would have liked to include this or that amendment. However, ladies and gentlemen, this text represents an excellent step forward for disabled people. How often have we heard of deplorable cases where disabled people were denied access to public transport? Well, this text will put an end to those incidents. It will put an end to discrimination against the disabled and the sick. Access will no longer be restricted.
Let us be aware of what this text represents, namely, real progress, not to mention the excellent provision which stipulates that on-board staff should be trained to deal with disabled persons. This also represents a significant move forward for disabled people. Thus, we should stop talking about integrating disabled people into society. We should actually implement this integration process. That is what the text is doing, and I think that we should welcome that fact.
This text will allow the European institutions to really improve the lives of disabled people. We should congratulate the rapporteurs. That is what I would now like to do, on behalf of all disabled people. Let us not hide our satisfaction.
Siim Kallas
Vice-President of the Commission. - Mr President, I must express my gratitude for the involvement of the European Parliament and for the extensive work undertaken. We are moving in the same direction.
As regards the maritime rights of passengers travelling by sea and inland waterways
that everyone is in favour of giving passengers with restricted mobility their rights equally well. However, when it is a doubt of who receives preferential discussion and of a possible decrease in operators' profits, then the solution is a definite no. In this case, it is made quite clean that the focus is not on disabled people. This position must change. 
 Mrs Wortmann - Kool says that the trouble lies with the small operators, but this is not true. The large companies have lobbied on this topic and were opposed to the solution. They are using the small hustler as a pretext to protect their interests. We could come to a compromise for the small operator, but from an overall perspective, we must tackle the large organisations. They are not prepared to usher any consideration for passengers with restricted mobility. This is unacceptable. These passengers must have the same rights as everyone else. We should be grateful that we do not have restricted mobility ourselves and, therefore, we should show our solidarity with those people who do. 
 Philippe Juvin 
 (FR) Mr President, it is clear that these are not perfect texts. It is clear that one MEP or another would have wish to include this or that amendment. However, ladies and valet, this textbook defend an excellent step forward for disabled citizenry. How often have we heard of deplorable cases where disabled citizenry were denied access to public transport? Well, this text will put an end to those incident. It will put an end to discrimination against the disabled and the sick. Access will no longer be restricted. 
 lease us be aware of what this textbook map, namely, real progress, not to mention the excellent provision which stipulate that on - board staff should be trained to deal with disabled person. This also represents a significant move fore for disabled people. therefore, we should stop talking about integrating disabled people into society. We should actually enforce this integration procedure. That is what the text is do, and I think that we should welcome that fact. 
 This text will allow the European institutions to really better the lives of disabled people. We should congratulate the rapporteurs. That is what I would now like to do, on behalf of all disabled people. Let us not shroud our satisfaction. 
 Siim Kallas 
 Vice - President of the Commission. - Mr President, I must express my gratitude for the participation of the European Parliament and for the extensive work contract. We are moving in the same direction. 
 As involve the maritime rights of passengers travelling by sea and inland waterways
 thwt everyone is in favour of giving passgnters wmth resfricted oobility their rights as welp. Yowevtg, when it is a questiun of who receivew prtferential treatmxht and of a pkdsibnx reduction in pperators' [rofits, then tve auswer is a definite no. In this case, yt is msdf quite clear jhat uhe fochs is not on disabled people. This aituatimn must changr.
Mrs Wortmann-Kool says thah thf problem lies witj the small opewqtors, but thks is not urbe. The largg companies have lobbied on this issuz and were ipposfg to the sooutiog. They are using the small pperators as a prxtexr to protect their inverests. We could comg to a com[rkmise for the smaol operdtorv, bug frum zn oberall pecspective, ws must tackoe the large organixaeppns. They are not pwe[ared to show any consideration for pasvenfers with restricted movility. This is unaccektable. Thefe passengers must have the same rights as everyote elad. Wt whoula bf grateful that we do not have restricted mobymiuy purselves and, bherefore, we shoulc dhpr our solidarkty wicg fhose people who dl.
Philipke Juvun
(FR) Mr Pwesicent, it is clear that these are not peryecr texts. It is cleax that one MZP or snothrr would have liked to nncluds this or tjat amendjdnt. However, ladids sng gentlemen, this text reprqsents an exczllent sgep gorwarq for disahled iaople. How often hage we haard of deolorable cases where disabled pxpple were demiad dccess tj pubkic transport? Well, this texj will puc an evd to thosv incidenvs. It will ptt an end to glscriminatioi against the disqbled ava the sick. Accrss will uj lobger be restricted.
Ket hs be aware of ckau rhis text reprrsevts, nwmxly, rqdl progress, tot go orntiov the excelodnt lrovision which stipglatss that on-board stsfn should ve trainqd to deal wiyh disabled persond. Thiv auso rrprgsents a significant move forwadd for didabjed people. Trus, qe should stpp talking about integrating disabled pxople into society. We syould actually implgmekt this intejratiog process. That is what the tezt is doing, and I think that we should welcoke thwt fact.
This text will allow the European institutions to really improve tye livxs of disables pepple. Fe xhould conjretulate the rappogteurs. That is what I would now uike to go, on behalf of all disabled proole. Let us noj hide our satisfaction.
Siij Kallas
Fice-President of the Commission. - Mr President, I must exiress my tratifude for tie involvement of thr Euro'ean Pqrliamebt akd for the extdnsovc work undfrtaleu. We are moving in the same direcrion.
As rfgards the maritmme rights on kassenggrs travglling by sea and inlzjd wajerways
that everyone is in favour of giving restricted their rights well. However, when who preferential treatment and a possible reduction operators' profits, then the answer is definite no. In this case, it is made quite clear that the focus not on disabled people. This situation must change. Mrs Wortmann-Kool says that the lies the operators, this is not true. The large companies have lobbied on this issue and were opposed to solution. They are using the small operators as pretext to protect their We could come to a for small operators, from overall we must tackle large organisations. They are not prepared to show any consideration for passengers with restricted mobility. This is These passengers the same as else. should be grateful do not have restricted mobility ourselves should show our solidarity with those people who Philippe Juvin Mr President, it is clear that are not perfect texts. It is clear that MEP or another would have liked to include this or that amendment. However, ladies and text represents an excellent forward for disabled How have heard deplorable cases disabled people were denied access to public transport? Well, this text put an end to those incidents. It will put an discrimination the disabled and sick. Access will no be Let us be aware this represents, not mention excellent provision which stipulates on-board staff should be trained deal with disabled persons. move forward for disabled people. Thus, we should talking about integrating disabled people into society. should actually implement this integration process. That is what the text is and I we should welcome that fact. This text will the European institutions to improve the lives of disabled people. We should congratulate rapporteurs. is what would now like do, on behalf all disabled people. not hide satisfaction. Kallas Commission. - Mr President, I must my for the involvement of the Parliament the extensive work undertaken. We are moving in the same direction. As regards the maritime passengers travelling by sea inland
 that everyone is in favour of gIving passeNgers WitH reStRictEd moBility their rigHTs as Well. However, when it is a quEstioN oF Who rECeIves pReferenTIaL TReaTmEnT anD oF A pOssibLe rEductioN in operatoRs' pRoFits, then the aNSwEr is a definIte No. In this case, It iS made qUiTe cLEar thAt tHe focUs is noT On disaBled peoplE. THIs situATion musT CHaNge.
MRs Wortmann-Kool sayS ThAT the problem lieS with tHe SMaLL OpeRatOrs, but this Is Not trUE. The larGE cOMPAniES have lobbied oN this issue aND weRe oppoSeD to THe soluTion. THeY Are Using the smaLl opErators as A preteXT to protECt their IntereSts. we cOuld COmE tO a cOmPRomISe For THe sMall operAtOrS, but fRom aN OVERall PerSpecTive, wE must tackle thE laRge oRGanIsatiOns. ThEy arE nOt prePared tO show AnY consideration fOr paSsengers wIth ReStrIcTed moBIlity. THis Is uNacceptAble. TheSE paSsENGErS must have the same riGhTS As Everyone Else. We SHoUlD Be gratefUl ThaT we dO NOt havE resTRiCted mobiLity ouRSeLvEs and, thErEfore, wE sHouLd sHow ouR SoliDarity With thosE peopLE who do.
Philippe jUvin
(FR) Mr PresiDEnT, IT iS CleaR thAt these are nOt peRFect TextS. it Is cLEar thAt one mEp Or ANother would have likeD tO incluDe thiS or that amendmEnt. However, LADIes and geNtleMEn, THis text represeNts an Excellent sTEp forwarD for dIsabled pEople. How oFTEn have we HeaRd oF dePloRABlE cases where diSABled PeOple werE deNied accEss To pUblIc tRaNsport? WelL, this texT wIlL pUt An eNd to tHOse incidEnTs. IT wIll Put an ENd to diScrimInatIoN aGAinSt the diSAbLED and ThE sIck. ACceSs Will nO lonGEr bE restriCted.
Let us Be aWAre oF wHaT this teXt represents, nAmEly, real proGrEss, Not to mENTion the eXcellent provision which sTIpulateS thAt on-bOard Staff shouLd bE trainEd tO Deal wiTh disaBled pErSonS. tHis alSO RePreSeNts a signifICAnt Move fOrWard For disaBled people. Thus, we shOUld Stop talking abOut InteGRAtIng DIsABleD pEOplE INto society. We shoUld actuallY iMPlEment this iNTegRaTion proCess. ThaT is whAT the texT is doing, aNd I think tHaT we sHOUld Welcome thaT fact.
ThiS text will ALlow tHE EUropeAn iNstituTiOns To reaLly impROve The liVes of dIsAbled pEople. we Should coNgratulate the rapporteurS. That iS what i woUld now likE to DO, on Behalf of aLl diSabled peopLe. LEt uS not hIde OUr satIsfaCTiOn.
SIIm KalLas
VICe-PresideNT oF thE cOmMission. - Mr PrESIDenT, I musT exPRess my GratItude for the involvEMent of the EuropEan PARLiaMenT And fOr The extensive woRk uNdERTaken. We aRe Moving in the Same direCtIOn.
As rEgards The marItime riGHTs OF passeNgerS trAvelling bY seA aND inland WaTeRWays
 that everyone is in favou r of givin g pas sen ger swith  res tricted mobili t y th eir rights as well. Ho wever ,w heni tis aquestio n  o f who  r ec eiv es pr efere nti al trea tment andofapossible red u ct ion in ope rat ors' profits , t hen th eans w er is  adefin ite no .  In th is case,it is mad e  quitec l ea r th at the focus is n o to n disabled peo ple. T hi s  s i t uat ion  must chan ge .
Mrs Wortman n -K o o l  sa y s that the pr oblem liesw ith  the s ma llo perato rs, b ut thi s is not tr ue.The large  compa n ies hav e  lobbie d on t his  is suea nd  w ere  o p pos e dtot hesolution .Th ey ar e us i n g thesma ll o perat ors as a pret ext  top rot ect t heirinte re sts.We cou ld co me  to a compromis e fo r the sma llop era to rs, b u t from  an  ov erall p erspect i ve,  w e m us t tackle the large  o r g an isations . They ar en ot prepa re d t o sh o w  anycons i de ration f or pas s en ge rs with  r estric te d m obi lity. This  is un acceptab le. T h ese passengers must have the sa m e  r i ghts  as  everyone e lse. We s houl d  b e g r atefu l tha tw ed o not have restrict ed  mobil ity o urselves and,  therefore , w e should  sho w  o u r solidarity w ith t hose peopl e  who do. 
Phil ippe Juv in
(FR) M r Presiden t,itiscle a r  t hat these are n ot p er fect te xts . It is  cl ear  th aton e MEP oranotherwo ul dha veliked to inclu de  th is  or  that amendm ent.Howe ve r, lad ies and ge n t leme n,  t histex trepre sent s  an  excell ent stepfor w ardfo rdisable d people. How  o ften havewe  he ard of d eplorabl e cases where disabledp eople w ere  deni ed a ccess topub lic tr ans p ort? W ell, t his t ex t w i l l put a nend  t o those in c i den ts. I twill  put an  end to discrimina t ion  against thedis able d an d t h es ick .A cce s s  will no longer  be restri ct e d. 
Let us be awa re  of wha t thistextr epresen ts, namel y, real p ro gres s ,  no t to menti on the e xcellentp rovis i on  whic h s tipula te s t hat o n-boar d  st aff s houldbe  train ed to  d eal with  disabled persons. This  alsorepre sen ts a sign ifi c ant  move for ward  for disab led  pe ople.  Th u s, we  sho u ld  st o p tal king about int e gr ati n g  d isabled peo p l e  in to so cie t y. Weshou ld actually imple m ent this integ rati o n  pr oce s s. T ha t is what thetex ti s  doing,an d I think t hat we s ho u ld we lcomethat f act.
Th i s  t e xt wil l al low  the Euro pea ni nstitut io ns to rea llyim provethe li v es o f disabled people.  We s h o uld c o ngr atula te  the ra p port eurs. That  is what Iwouldnowliketo do,on  behal f o fall disabl e d people.  Letus nothi de o ursatisf acti o n .
Sii m Ka ll asVice-Pres i d en t  o ft heComm issio n.  - M r Preside n t, I mus t e x press m ygra t i tude f o rt h e involvem ent  of t h e  EuropeanP arli a me n t and  for t he ext ensivew ork  u ndertak en. W e are mov ing in th e  sa me  dir ection.As  reg ar dsth e maritime righ ts of pa ssengers t ravell ing by s e a andin land waterwa ys
 that_everyone is_in favour of giving_passengers with_restricted_mobility their_rights_as well. However,_when it is_a question of who_receives preferential treatment_and_of a possible reduction in operators' profits, then the answer is a definite no._In_this case,_it_is_made quite clear that the_focus is not on disabled_people. This_situation must change.
Mrs Wortmann-Kool says that the problem_lies_with the small_operators, but this is not true. The large companies_have lobbied on this issue and_were opposed to_the_solution._They are using the_small operators as a pretext to_protect their interests. We could come_to a compromise for the small operators,_but from an overall perspective, we_must tackle the large organisations._They are_not prepared to show any_consideration for passengers_with restricted_mobility. This is_unacceptable. These passengers must have the_same rights as_everyone else. We should be grateful_that_we do not_have_restricted_mobility ourselves_and, therefore, we_should_show our_solidarity_with those people who do.
Philippe Juvin
(FR)_Mr_President, it is clear that these are_not perfect texts. It_is_clear that one MEP_or another would have liked_to include this or that amendment._However, ladies_and gentlemen,_this text represents an excellent step forward for disabled people. How_often have we heard of deplorable_cases where disabled people_were denied_access_to public transport?_Well,_this text_will put an end to those incidents._It will_put an end to discrimination against_the disabled and the_sick._Access will no longer be restricted.
Let_us be aware of what this_text represents, namely, real progress,_not_to_mention the excellent provision which_stipulates that on-board staff should be_trained to deal_with disabled persons. This also represents a_significant_move forward for disabled people. Thus,_we_should stop talking about integrating disabled_people_into_society. We should actually implement_this integration process. That is what_the text is doing, and I think that we_should welcome that_fact.
This text will allow the_European_institutions_to really improve the lives of disabled people. We should_congratulate the_rapporteurs. That is_what I would now like to do, on behalf of_all disabled people. Let us not hide_our satisfaction.
Siim Kallas
Vice-President of the Commission. - Mr President, I must_express my gratitude for the involvement of the_European Parliament and for the extensive work_undertaken. We are moving_in_the same direction.
As regards the maritime rights_of_passengers_travelling_by sea and_inland waterways