On Disability Intergroup
in the European Parliament
and the new EU Disability Strategy
Ádám Kósa
member of the European Parliament
president of the Disability Intergroup
EQUINET AGM
17 November
Brussels
On the topic
Basic principles:
- strengthened cooperation between EU
Institutions
- supporting the ratification of UN
Convention of rights of persons with
disabilities in MSs
- more attention should be paid to the
employment related policies at EU and
member states levels (EU2020)
What the EP has already
legally done?
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two resolutions on sign language in 1988 and 1998
resolution in 1995 on the human rights of disabled people,
resolution in 1996 on the Rights of Disabled People,
resolution in 1997 on equality of opportunity for people with
disabilities,
resolution of 23 June 2003 on Towards a United Nations legally
binding instrument to promote and protect the rights and dignity
of persons with disabilities
resolution of 4 April 2009 on the conclusion, by the European
Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities and the Optional Protocol thereto
resolution on EU2020 with expressed reference to disabled
workers
European Union and the
new employment policy
New resolution of 8 September 2010 on Employment Guidelines for the
Member States (with overwhelming majority)
New Challenges:
- only 4 new guidelines (out of 10) are in employment field for
simplification (between 2008-2010: 8 out of 24 Integrated Guidelines ).
Guideline 7: Increasing labour market participation and reducing structural
unemployment
Guideline 8: Developing a skilled workforce responding to labour market needs,
promoting job quality and lifelong learning
Guideline 9: Improving the performance of education and training systems at all
levels and increasing participation in tertiary education
Guideline 10: Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty
Why is the EP important to
us?
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We can be at the legislation of the EU
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Big public attention and new contacts
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Increasing the activity of the European Commission
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Gearing up the adoption of the UN Convention on rights of
people with disabilities as well as sign languages
Political message: „Nothing about us, without us”
Concrete references on
disabilities
Resolution on EU2020 - 32. Takes the view that the
ageing of Europe's population requires lifelong learning policies
and a more flexible retirement age (where employees opt for
this), so as to keep a sufficient number of active people in the
labour market and enhance their social inclusion; is of the
opinion that the employment potential of older people and
disabled workers is often neglected, and expects proposals
aimed at enhancing their potential; urges, furthermore, the
Commission to put forward a strategy to combat youth
unemployment;
Ádám Kósa Ádám, Iceland, 11-13/02/2010
Planned roadmap of the
Trio Presidency
One of the most important tools, the National Reform Programmes –
after having consulted with the member states – are going to be
adopted by next April under the Hungarian Presidency
New measures are going to be introduced within the next year:
- European Semester in January 2011
- flagships of EU2020, especially:
- New Skills and Jobs
- Platform against Poverty
Conclusion will be adopted in the relevant Council on Disability Strategy
next March
New Disability Strategy
2010-2020
Public consultation in last autum on new Disability
Straregy showed that, according to the European
citizens, people think the most important fields are as
follows:
- accessibility to built environment (95%)
- equal opportunities in the job market (94%)
Conclusion of the public
consultation on DS
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Apart from the access to barrier-free environment in general, a
much better policy needed to integrate and help disabled job
seekers with lowest-rated status, especially in an innovative and
green-based economy with skilled workers.
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Even though the innovation-driven as well as the green-based
industrial focused approaches are welcomed in general, the
next Disability Strategy cannot neglect the alarming situation of
these marginalised groups of people with disabilities.
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Considering the recent trends in ageing, the disabled people on
the dole also must be urgently integrated into the society since
within 2 decades there will be a serious shortage of 20 million
workers in Europe.
On Disability Strategy
• One of the most important tools: European
Accessibility Act proposed by 2012
• By 2015 in most cases of its action
programme’ aims and results as well as
concrete actions should be formulated and
reached
• Why? By 2020 almost 20 million active
workers will be retired – shortage of people to
handle
During the past year
• Consultiaions with the EU institutions

Disability Intergroup sittings
 With Spanish and Belgian Presidencies on
their programmes
 Sessions for EU2020 strategy and women
with disabilities
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by written questions for constructing new ways to
move on
Topics of written
questions
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on consumer-protection;
the effect of the UN Convention;
the state-aid policy during financial crisis;
the right to sign language;
the wider accessibility of transport, including the
prohibition of different pricing of transport measures
and means and navigation;
• a more effective cohesion policy and a better
integration of Structural Funds with special regard to
the regional policy
• wider accessibility to intellectual and artistic works
General conclusions
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Anti-discrimination measures are the most important tools for
defending people with disability on open labour market and
market related issues (consumer protection, pricing, etc.)
MEPs should focus on European Employment Strategy and the
relevant flagship initiatives of EU2020;
MEPs and all experts relevant in the field might follow the
consultations on National Reform Programmes with special
attention to people with disabilities
MEPs should care about the disabled people without skills
needed in an innovative world regarding the disadvantages of
globalisation
More attention should be paid to following the programmes and
planned revisions of the European Social Fund and European
Regional and Development Fund as well as Cohesion Fund for
anti-discrimination related projects
Thank you for your
attention!