News/Press

“Europe belongs to you, Europe is yours”


European Day of Disabled People Conference: European Commissioner Vladimir Spidla stresses the key role to be played by young people in the future EU

5 December 2006 – “Europe is diversity. Europe means fighting discrimination. Europe belongs to you”, said yesterday the European Commissioner on Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities to an important assembly of young Europeans with and without disabilities. “The European Union must recognise the potential of its young people, with or without disabilities. The future Europe is inclusive, accessible to all, a Europe in which disabled people are full citizens, free to make their own choices, in charge of their own lives”

This was the first time that the traditional conference organised by the European Commission in close cooperation with the European Disability Forum, was dedicated to youth. During a day and a half, 350 participants, mostly young people, have shared their vision of the European Union, presenting their demands and expectations to EU officials. The discussions included the right to education and training, to access the employment market, goods and services and the means to guarantee the full participation of young disabled people in society and in particular, in the activities and programmes.

“In this conference, we will have the opportunity to practice democracy and take advantage of the interaction between young people with disabilities, EU officials, representatives of the European disability movement, policy makers…” said the General Director of DG Employment and Social Affairs, Nikolaus van der Pas. “For the first time, I have a better vision for the EU’s role and a better conscience of Europe’s impact and responsibility in my daily life”, reacted one of the young participants with a disability, coming from one of the 27 European countries represented.

The leader of the European Disability movement, Yannis Vardakastanis called on young people with disabilities to play an active role in the European integration process: “It is time to make your voice heard and to tell all stakeholders present what you want them to do. You are the main actors, make yourselves visible and raise your concerns at all levels.” He also reminded the EU’s responsibility to listen to its citizens: “This is a unique opportunity for decision-makers to hear from young people how they see and believe in the EU”. Vardakastanis also stressed the importance of the European youth and the disability movements: “No movement has future without the young people involved. We need a new radicalism, a new way of thinking and acting. We need a European Day of Disabled People, but most important, a day to be heard”.

Signature of Memorandum of Understanding

The conference was closed by the official signing of an official Memorandum of Understanding between the European Disability Forum and the European Youth Forum, the two European NGOs that represent the rights and concerns of young people and of disabled people in Europe. The good cooperation between the two organisations is a key example of how disability should be integrated in the work and policies of all EU institutions and relevant actors:

“The European Youth Forum sees the European Day of People with Disabilities 2006 as an important step to change prejudice and to question the assumptions that have been shaping the mentalities of Europeans over the years”, pointed out Diogo Pinto, General Secretary of the European Youth Forum. “I believe this conference is one among the growing number of positive signs that shows that the world of disability that our ancestors designed is no longer acceptable to the younger generations of Europeans”, he added.

Lisa Pavan-Woolfe, General Director for Equal Opportunities: “This Memorandum shows that we must continue to place disability policies at the core of our work”.

For more information, please contact: Helena González-Sancho Bodero, EDF Communication and Press Officer; Tel office: (+ 32 2) 282 46 04; E-mail: communication@edf-feph.org or Patricia Sanchez, YFJ Press and Communications Manager; Tel office: (+32 2) 282 94 17; E-mail: patricia.sanchez@youthforum.org

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is the European umbrella organisation representing the interests of 50 million disabled citizens in Europe. EDF membership includesnational umbrella organisations of disabled peoplefrom all EU/EEA countries, as well asEuropean NGOs representing the different types of disabilities. The mission of the European Disability Forum is toensure disabled people full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in Europe.

The European Youth Forum (YFJ) is an international organisation established by national youth councils and international youth organisations to represent the interests of young people from all over Europe at the European and international level. Its members, which are federations in themselves, bring together tens of millions of young people from all European countries. Representation, internal democracy, independence, openness and inclusion are among the main principles for the functioning of the European Youth Forum and its Member Organisations.