News/Press

Latest EU proposal on Structural Funds set to block access of disabled citizens to public infrastructures

The European Union is about to adopt a proposal that will allow the Member States to use public money to finance inaccessible buildings and infrastructures.

For 50 million people with disabilities the new EU barriers will dramatically increase their chances of exclusion.

Brussels, 24 April 2006 – After two years of intensive negotiations, the Council of the European Union is about to adopt a compromise agreement on the EU Structural Funds, representing over 30% of the EU total budget. Despite the strong pressure of the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council have left out of this proposal the principle of accessibility, to be applied to the use of these Funds by the Member States.

“The European Union has the responsibility to control and decide how the European public money should be used in the Member States. By leaving out of the proposal the criteria of accessibility, the Commission and the Council are simply sentencing 50 million disabled people to leave aside of society; and that is something that we will not accept”, said Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum.

Structural funds have contributed to main investment projects in the environment, employment and services, knowledge society, infrastructure transport, urban renewal, training, education, culture. Despite the fact that in principle, disabled people can benefit from the EU funds as anyone else, the lack of specific provisions, such accessibility, prevents them to do so. For the European Disability Forum, even if provisions or general rules exist in a country, they will not be effective if accessibility is not an overarching pre-condition to obtain funding for a project.

During a meeting of the European Parliament Regional Development Committee held on 20 April 2006, several MEPs warned the European Commission that the current proposal could not be accepted in its current form. “If the Council is not ready to amend the proposal, we will be forced to reject the whole package and go for a second reading”, said Konstantinos Hatzidakis, leading EP Rapporteur for the EU Structural Funds.

The European Disability Forum has therefore urged the Council, meeting on 27 April 2006, to adopt a common position that will guarantee the principle of accessibility in all EU Structural Funds. EDF has also strongly called the European Commission, as guardian of the Treaty, to support this key principle. “Equality and non-discrimination are part of the European Union foundations. It is time for the EU to prove that its financial tools are consistent with its values, explicitly recognized in the Treaty”, reminded Vardakastanis, EDF President.

For more information, please contact: Helena González-Sancho Bodero, EDF Communication Officer: Tel: +32-2-282.46.04 E-mail: communication@edf-feph.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.