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
European Commission!
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…
European Commission!
Towards a new EU Disability Strategy
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30 March 2007: the European Community signs the UN Convention
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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
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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;
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Code of conduct:
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Sincere cooperation
Unity external representation
European Commission!
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 Commission!
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 */
European Commission!
Main areas for EU action
•  Accessibility of goods and services
•  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
European Commission!
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
European Commission!
Key Actions involving persons with disability
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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.
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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
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Exchange of good practices in the Disability High Level Group (DHLG).
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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
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The governance framework art 33 (…and involvement of people with disabilities and their organisations)
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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.
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Financing EU level disability NGOs
European Commission!
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”…
European Commission!
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:
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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
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Link with EU 2020 indicators
Europe 2020 indicators:
–  Employment
–  Education
–  Poverty
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On line tool on instruments
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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 Commission!
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
European Commission!