The representative organisation of persons with disabilities in Europe
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Disability Intergroup
The Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament is an informal grouping of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) from all nationalities and most political groups who are interested in promoting the disability policy in their work at the European Parliament as well as in the national contexts.The Disability Intergroup is one of the oldest Intergroups of the European Parliament; it was established in 1980.
Composition of the Disability Intergroup Bureau
Composition of the Disability Intergroup during the European Parliament 2009-2014 term
RECENT NEWS FROM THE INTERGROUP
18 April 2013 The Disability Intergroup held a meeting in Strasbourg dedicated to the proposal for an EU directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites.
The meeting gathered almost all parliamentarians involved in the dossier: the main rapporteur Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, MEP (ALDE) and the shadow raporteurs: MEP Rafal Trzaskowski (EPP), Vicente Garces (S&D), Christian Engström (Greens/EFA), as well as the EMPL raporteur for opinion MEP Tamas Deutsch (EPP)
Ramon Sanmartin Sola, from the European Commission, DG Connect, was invited to present the draft law to Intergroup MEPs.
Carlotta Besozzi, Director of the European Disability Forum, presented the view of the European disability movement.
The exchange of views showed Parliament’s broad support to the directive and its will to amend the proposal to make it more ambitious. In particular, the majority of MEPs agreed that the scope of the directive has to be extended to include all websites delivering publicly available services. MEPs also insisted that the proposed legislation, instead of being a costly burden, will bring important economic gains and will represent a benefit for all users. Indeed, providing services on line easy to access for all is an advantage and economic gain for public administration and companies. In addition, small and medium enterprises developing websites will benefit from an unexploited market and will be able to catch up delay in comparison with regulated markets such as US or Asia. The European Commission estimates the web accessibility market worth 2 billion euros.
30 June 2011 The Disability Intergroup rejoices at the adoption of the written declaration supporgin accessible labelling sponsored by MEPs Konstantinos Poupakis, Richard Howitt, Ádám Kósa, Eva Lichtenberger and Cecilia Wikström. A record 447 MEPs have signed the declaration, following a strong campaign by the European Blind Union. The declaration calls on the Commission to launch a consultation on the feasibility of introducing a voluntary system of labelling in Braille and other accessible formats. Please read more about the declaration on the website of the European Blind Union. 
30 June 2011 The report from the meeting on disability mainstreaming in the European Social Fund is ready. Please consult the Meetings section of the website!
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14 April 2011 The Disability Intergroup sent a letter to EP President Jerzy Buzek co-signed by 59 of its members. The letter asks for support for the organization of the Freedom Drive organized by the European Network of Independent Living in Strasbourg. The Freedom Drive brings together over 300 disability activists from grassroot organizations across Europe. They come to Strasbourg every two years to claim their human rights, dignity and visibility. The Intergroup asked the President to endorse the initiative and give the Freedom Drivers official welcome to the European Parliament.
Disability Intergroup Vice-President Cecilia Wikstroem is leading on this initiative.
=>The response of the President to the letter of the Disability Intergroup will be published on this website.
Update 20 June 2011! Although we are still awaiting the formal response of the EP President, the Intergroup has been informed that the EPP Group of the EU has granted the Freedom Drivers the use of a large room at the European Parliament in Strasbourg for the morning of 15 September. So if you are planning to be in Strasbourg on 15 September, mark this in your agendas! More information about the event is to follow.
9 June 2011 On 28 June, just before the meeting of the Disability Intergroup on Structural Funds, the UN Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR)and UNICEF will jointly presenttwo reports on human rights situation in residential institutions in Europe. The report will cover children, persons with disabilities and older persons. The launch of the report is an important step towards full recognition of the human rights abuses that are commonplace in institutions, despite being prohibited by the international human rights law.
The launch will be hosted by the long-standing member of the Disability IntergroupMairead McGuinness MEP. It will take place on 28 June at 12.00-13.30 in room A5F385 at the European Parliament in Brussels. Those wishing to attend are requested to contact pybrundseaux@unicef.orgcommunicating their name, date of birth, nationality and passport/ID number.