Hungary has taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (the Council) on 1 July. This means that Hungary will now chair all the relevant Council formations and technical bodies, such as the Education, Employment, and Social Affairs Council meetings of the national ministers (EPSCO) or the Social Questions Working Party meetings which usually discuss issues related to disability. Hungary follows a successful Belgian Presidency.
While a big part of the Presidency Programme is devoted to home affairs, defence, and the internal market, one of the seven priorities also addresses persons with disabilities. Under the headline “Addressing demographic challenges”, the Hungarian Presidency has promised also to cover social integration:
In the social field, the Hungarian Presidency will focus on the social and economic integration of persons with disabilities. With regard to social inclusion, we will concentrate on access to quality services in order to reduce territorial inequalities, in the general context of poverty reduction, the promotion of the implementation of the EU Roma Strategic Framework by Member States, and the more efficient use of EU funds
The Presidency kick-started its focus on disability with a debate on the employment of persons with disabilities during a meeting of EU Ministers on 16 July. During this debate, Ministers outlined policy measures each country is taking to improve the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market.
The Presidency also announced two Council Conclusions on disability rights:
- Promoting the social participation and inclusion of persons with disabilities.
- Strengthening access to quality services.
The Presidency programme also foresees work on the Equal Treatment Directive, a key file that has been in negotiations in the Council for over 14 years, and progress in two new regulatory proposals on passenger rights. Furthermore, the proposal for the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card, which already reached political agreement under the Belgian Presidency, will most likely also be formally adopted in autumn.
Finally, the Presidency will host an event on employment of persons with disabilities on 9 October in Budapest.
EDF will follow up on these promises and push for disability inclusion in other legislation and policy initiatives during the Presidency, as announced in our document “EDF’s Priorities for the Hungarian Council Presidency 2024”.