After EDF first reaction to the European Commission’s proposal for the European Pillar of Social Rights (the Social Pillar), and ahead of the Social Summit for Fair Jobs and Growth on the 17 November, EDF Board adopts a resolution in the same context. Through this resolution, EDF Board addresses Heads of States and Governments to call for a strong commitment towards the right to employment, social inclusion and social protection for persons with disabilities and all people in the European Union (EU).

To apply the principles of the Social Pillar and achieve higher employment rate, better working conditions and adequate standards of living and social protection for all EU citizens including persons with disabilities, national governments should commit to its implementation at national level.

To this end, EDF resolution:

• reminds EU Member States of their obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), as well as under the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs);
• calls for adequate financial resources to be allocated to promote better employment conditions and social protection for persons with disabilities;
• calls for the adoption of a strong directive on Work-Life Balance for Parents and Careers which recognizes both the perspective of carers of persons with disabilities and of parents with disabilities.

Read the full resolution here

EDF and its members will advocate to bring the messages of the resolution at the attention on Heads of States and Governments during the Social Summit on the 17 November 2017 and during the Social Platform side event in Gothenburg on 16 November 2017. More information about the Social Summit and Social Platform’s side event is available here

Follow the discussion on social media using the hashtag: #SocialSummit17