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20 September 2012 /// Running from 2014 to 2020 with an 80 Euro billion budget, the legislative proposal Horizon 2020 for research and innovation is expected to create new growth and jobs in Europe. Horizon 2020 will decide the orientation of European research and allocation of funding for the next 7 years of the decade. Read the latest EDF position and proposals for amendments on Horizon 2020.

Members of the European Parliament seating in the ‘Industry, Research and Energy’ Committee will vote on the proposals for amendments in October while the Member States start discussing the proposals for legislation as well. In this context, EDF would like to remind that the visibility of disability and accessibility is of major importance if we want to implement the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities appropriately and, ultimately, advance the Human Rights of persons with disabilities.

1. The human rights perspective

Disability-related research funded by the EU should be systematically grounded in a human rights perspective promoting participation and access of persons with disabilities to society, in order to produce research which is useful and meaningful. We believe that the proposals should be amended in this respect in Objective 1. Health, demographic change and well-being, and in Ojective 6. Secure, innovative and inclusive societies.

2. 100% funding

We believe that the proposals should allow for 100% funding for organisations of persons with disabilities (DPOs) participating in research projects. If this is not the case, it will be extremely difficult for DPOs to contribute, just as our perspective and contribution can greatly enhance the quality and value of the funded research for society as whole.

3. Full inclusion

The EU should allow for reasonable accommodation in research policy and programmes and for additional funding to cover all disability-related costs: in order to ensure that researchers and persons with disabilities are able to participate and contribute fully to research funded under Horizon 2020, EU funding rules should allow for additional funding to cover all disability-related costs of individual participants.

4. Accessibility

Accessibility of documents and research material shall be guaranteed to persons with disabilities: no specific reference is made to the need to ensure that information and communication are made available in formats which are accessible to persons with disabilities. It is vital that they are able to learn about funded research projects and access the results of the research on an equal basis with others. For this reason, the proposals must make appropriate references to make information available in accessible format.

 EDF Position on Horizon 2020, June 2012

 EDF Amendments on Amendments on Proposal for a Regulation establishing Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) (COM(2011)809 final), September 2012

 Amendments on Proposal for a Regulation laying down the rules for participation and dissemination in “Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020)” (COM(2011)810final), September 2012

 EDF Amendments on Proposal for a Council Decision establishing the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 2020- The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) (COM(2011)811 final), September 2012

Find out more about the EuRADE project, aiming at the full participation of disabled people's organisations in research initiatives, at the project’s website