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The 24 boxes containing the signatures collected in the 27 Member States will be deposited at the European Commission central mail services for official registration on 22 November 2007 at 10H30
Brussels, 20 November 2007 – After only 9 months of campaign, the European Disability Forum (EDF), the European platform defending the rights of disabled people in Europe, managed to collect more than one million signatures in favour of stronger disability legislation in Europe, following Art 47 on participatory democracy of the revised EU Treaty. On 4 October, a symbolic cheque of the signatures was handed over to Margot Wallström, Vice-President of the European Commission, in the course of a multitudinous citizens’ gathering held in the streets of Brussels.
“We were disappointed that in the last minute, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, cancelled his participation to our citizens’ gathering, with no explanation until this date. But we are confident that he will not continue to ignore the voices of 1.294.997 EU citizens who demand a better protection of disabled people’s right in Europe”, said Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the EDF.
The signatures were collected in the 27 Member States and the exact number was legally certified by a Belgian bailiff. Among the EU Member States, 18 countries reached the quota of signatures to be collected in their own country, a figure set and agreed by consensus among the European disability movement, according to the size and population of each Member State. 205.253 signatures were collected electronically through the campaign website www.1million4disability.eu and 1.089.744 were collected manually in each country. In addition to these figures, 25.719 signatures have been collected in Iceland, Norway and non EU Member States.
The 24 boxes containing the signatures, addressed to President Barroso, will be taken to the central mail services of the European Commission next Thursday at 10H30, Avenue du Bourget, 1-3; 1140 Brussels.
The EDF can provide pictures and an edited video of the 4th of October event upon request, as well as pictures of the delivery of the signature boxes.
For more information, please contact: Helena González-Sancho Bodero, EDF Communication and Press Officer; Tel: (+32 2) 282 46 04; Mobile phone: (+ 32 ) 485 64 39 93; 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 includes national umbrella organisations of disabled people from all EU/EEA countries, as well as European NGOs representing the different types of disabilities, organisations and individuals committed to disability issues. The mission of the European Disability Forum is to ensure disabled people full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in Europe.