We at E.ON believe that disability should not be a handicap. We want to be an attractive employer for all employees and give everyone the same opportunities. Integrating people with disabilities is therefore a particularly important aspect of E.ON's staff policy.

In 2007, group companies in Germany employed more than 1,700 people who were severely disabled or suffer from a similar impairment. The proportion of disabled employees in relation to the total number of employees in Germany amounted to around five percent. We were able to increase this figure by 0.3 percent compared to 2006.

At E.ON, the interests of disabled employees are represented by the Groups Representative Body for Disabled Persons and respective local bodies. These bodies offer help and advice and promote the integration of severely disabled people in the organization. They help make out the necessary applications for prevention, rearranging the work area or using aids.

The Groups Representative Body for Disables Persons meets twice a year. The purpose of this meeting is to exchange information and discuss relevant issues with the employers.

In order to define our responsibilities to disabled people more clearly, we entered into a new integration pact in conjunction with the groupwide severe disability support network. This establishes a common approach to inner-company integration and care for all German group companies.

The integration pact involves each company employing an appropriate number of disabled people. Workplaces and social facilities such as canteens and common rooms should also have disabled access.