The European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 Inmaculada Placencia Porrero Deputy Head of Unit DG Employment social affairs and equal opportunities Inmaculada.placencia-porrero@ec.europa.eu European Commission Directorate General Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities Integration of People with Disabilities
LEGAL BASIS CHARTER OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EU Article 21: Discrimination on the grounds of disability shall be prohibited Article 26: The Union recognises and respects the right of persons with disabilities to benefit from measures designed to ensure their independence, social and occupational integration and participation in the life of the community. TFEU Articles 10 and 19: the EU shall aim to combat discrimination (mainstreaming and specific legislation) Others: Internal market 114, Transport 90-100, Tourism 195
Towards a new EU Disability Strategy 30 March 2007: the European Community signs the UN Convention Council Resolution 2008/ C 75/01: invites the Commission to begin work on a new EU Disability strategy to succeed the current DAP assessing how national actions reflects EU and MS commitments to fully implement the UN Convention Council Decision November 2009 conclusion UN Convention SOC/363 Opinion March 2010 The EESC believes that a European Disability Pact needs to be adopted, laying the foundations for a new European policy on disability, in keeping with the Commission's future strategy for people with disabilities under the Treaty of Lisbon and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and its protocol. The European Union and the Member States should conclude the Convention as soon as possible. Council Resolution (2010/C 316/01) June 2010 INVITE THE COMMISSION, IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS COMPETENCES: 23. to support the effective implementation of the UN Convention by the Member States and the European Union Institutions; 24. to prepare, in cooperation with the Member States, persons with disabilities and their representative organisations and other relevant stakeholders, a new European Disability Strategy building on the values enshrined in the European Treaties, the Europe 2020 Strategy and the UN Convention; Code of conduct: Sincere cooperation Unity external representation
European Disability Strategy 2010/2020: a renewed commitment to a barrier-free Europe Public Consultations Adopted on 15 November 2010. Main objectives: Empower people with disabilities to enjoy their full rights Create a barrier-free Europe for all Comply with the international commitments taken by concluding the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
European Disability Strategy 2010/2020: a renewed commitment to a barrier-free Europe COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe /* COM/2010/0636 final */ COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe Initial plan to implement the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 List of Actions 2010-2015 {COM (2010) 636 final} {SEC(2010) 1323 final} /* SEC/2010/1324 final */ COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT Accompanying the COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe {COM (2010) 636 final} {SEC(2010) 1324 final} /* SEC/2010/1323 final */
Accessibility of goods and services Main areas for EU action Participation as equal citizens in Europe and quality community-based services Equality and combating discrimination Employment in the open labour market Inclusive education and training Social protection to combat poverty and social exclusion Equal access to health services and related facilities External action including EU enlargement, neighbourhood and international development programmes
HOW WILL IT WORK? Mix of tools to achieve the objectives of the strategy: Legislation: e.g. explore the possibility of a European Accessibility Act Mainstreaming: ensure that all relevant EU initiatives promote equal opportunities for people with disabilities Cooperation between Member States and civil society Funding Awareness-raising Data collection and monitoring Internal application UN Convention Governance UN Convention
Key Actions involving persons with disability The overall aim of this Strategy is to empower people with disabilities so that they can enjoy their full rights, and benefit fully from participating in society and in the European economy, notably through the Single market. There are still many obstacles preventing people with disabilities from fully exercising their fundamental rights - including their Union citizenship rights - and limiting their participation in society on an equal basis with others. The Commission will work to ensure that people with disabilities are aware of their rights, paying special attention to accessibility of materials and information channels Exchange of good practices in the Disability High Level Group (DHLG). The Commission will work to ensure that EU programmes in policy areas relevant to people with disabilities offer funding possibilities...the cost of measures to enable people with disabilities to take part in EU programmes should be eligible for reimbursement The governance framework art 33 ( and involvement of people with disabilities and their organisations) The implementation of this Strategy and of the UN Convention will be regularly discussed at the DHLG with representatives of the Member States and their national focal points, the Commission, disabled people and their organisations and other stakeholders. Financing EU level disability NGOs
EU level National Level This Strategy provides a framework for action at European level, as well as with national action to address the diverse situation of men, women and children with disabilities. This Strategy identifies actions at EU level to supplement national ones, and it determines the mechanisms8 needed to implement the UN Convention at EU level, including inside the EU institutions. The references to national actions are intended to supplement action at EU level, rather than to cover all national obligations under the UN Convention. List of Actions-> support and supplement
Monitoring efforts By the end of 2013, the Commission will report on progress achieved through this Strategy, covering implementation of actions, national progress and the EU report to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Objectives: Setting the conditions for change to implement the UN Convention Monitor implementation of the UN Convention Transparency on implementation of instruments Planning evaluation of the new European Disability Strategy Link with EU 2020 indicators Europe 2020 indicators: Employment Education Poverty On line tool on instruments» I UN Convention status» II. General Legal Framework» III. Accessibility and Assistive Technology» IV. Instruments for independent living» V. Collection of data» VI. Education and employment» VII. Training professionals» VIII. Awareness raising and external development ANED indicators Eurostat-Development of statistics
European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 on the web http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp? langid=en&catid=429&newsid=933&furthern ews=yes www.parkingcard.europa.eu