MEP Monica Semedo hosted a meeting of the European Parliament’s Disability Intergroup on 5 October to discuss the remaining priorities of the group ahead of the elections. The meeting specifically focused on:
- The proposal for a Directive establishing the European Disability Card and the Parking Card.
- The progress and remaining flagship initiatives and actions of the European Disability Rights Strategy 2021-2030.
- The view of the European Disability movement regarding current legislation under discussion in European Institutions.
- Efforts to strengthen bodies and processes of the European Parliament related to disability issues.
- Announcement of the European Parliament Disability Rights Week from 27 November to 4 December.
- Priorities of the Intergroup until the European Elections.
The Intergroup invited external speakers to this meeting: the European Disability Forum’s Vice President Pat Clarke; Nora Bednarski, cabinet member of European Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli; and Katarina Ivankovic-Knezevic, Director at the Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.
MEP Monica Semedo opened the meeting by stating: “There are key policies on the making in which this Disability Intergroup should leave its mark, as we have done in the past. We must do our utmost to make sure these remaining months are truly transformative for persons with disabilities.”
Updates from the Disability Movement
EDF’s Vice-President Pat Clarke updated the members on the work of the European Disability movement. He stressed that the Disability Card is one of the main priorities of the European disability movement. He also spoke about::
- The extreme concern of the disability movement regarding the proposal for a Regulation for cross-border “protection” of vulnerable adults. He asked for action from the Members of the European Parliament to amend the articles in breach of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
- Advocacy to ensure the criminalisation of forced sterilisation is included in the Directive to combat violence against women.
- Advocacy to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities are protected by the Artificial Intelligence Act.
- Support for ensuring that the EU funds will ensure an inclusive reconstruction of Ukraine for persons with disabilities.
European Disability Rights Strategy 2021-2030
Nora Bednarski, member of the cabinet of Commissioner Dalli, updated the participants on the progress of the Disability Rights Strategy.
She underlined both the Strategy and the Commission’s Equality Taskforce were important motors to ensure disability rights are mainstreamed in legislation. She affirmed that legislative proposals in all areas increasingly include disability-related provisions, such as accessibility and non-discrimination.
She updated the room on the progression of the European Disability Rights Strategy, including the AccessibleEU Centre, and one of the key flagship initiatives of the strategy – the guidelines on independent living and inclusion in the community. The Commission will also launch guidelines on inclusive political participation ahead of the elections and has created a webpage to monitor the Strategy’s implementation.
MEP Kympouropoulos requested more information about the Guidelines on Independent Living and Inclusion in the Community. The Commission representative replied that the Guidelines are meant to be practical and provide examples.
MEP Silvana González welcomed the guide on inclusive electoral practices and stressed the work of the Intergroup in supporting a legal reform that will ensure the right to vote and stand as a candidate for all persons with disabilities.
European Disability Card
Katarina Ivanković Knežević, Director for Social Rights and Inclusion, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, updated participants on the current proposal for a European Disability Card and European Parking Card.
She mentioned the most relevant points of the European Disability Card proposal:
- Mutual recognition of disability status in short stays.
- Access to services in an extended sense, including preferential tariffs.
- To be implemented in all EU countries.
She mentioned that the proposal does not extend to social security and that the Card will not replace national Cards.
The European Parking Card will become “standard” and replace national versions of parking cards for persons with disabilities and other beneficiaries. However, it will not harmonise conditions related to parking places or duration of parking.
MEPs shared their points of view regarding the proposal:
- MEP Kosa mentioned that MEPs will coordinate with the disability movement to ensure the Card respects their demands.
- MEP Brglez mentioned the need to extend the scope of the European Disability Card regarding what it covers and enhance the definitions of short stays to include, in particular, students in mobility programmes.
- MEP Silvana González mentioned the need for coordination to ensure MEPs table a text that follows the demands of persons with disabilities.
Katarina Ivanković Knežević responded to questions from participants, especially highlighting that the impact assessment showed the costs will be negligible and the economic benefits will largely exceed them. She also replied that third-country nationals are not included due to the legal basis that had to been chosen, but that the European Commission is finalising another legal act to cover them.
At the end of the discussion, the Chair of the Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee, MEP Dragoș Pîslaru– which is the Committee responsible for this file – announced MEP Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová is the lead negotiator from the European Parliament on this proposal. It is the intention of the Parliament to conclude the file before the elections.
Disability Rights in the European parliament
MEP Dragoș updated members on actions to strengthen bodies and processes dealing with disability issues, in line with recommendations from the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities:
- Revamping the European Parliament .
- Creating a “Disability Rights Week”, which will take place from 27 November to 4 December .
- Proposals to appoint an MEP as the Disability Rights Coordinator to mainstream disability rights across committees.
Work of the Disability Intergroup
Alejandro Moledo, secretariat of the Intergroup, informed members on the activities of the Intergroup during and 2023, including the conclusions of the COVID-19 committee, the Parliament’s positions on key legislation such as the Directive on combating violence against women, the Artificial Intelligence Act or the Energy Performance of Building Directive, and the recent revision of the Anti-Trafficking Directive and Victims Rights Directives
He also highlighted the support of the Intergroup on the flagship “5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities” and the participation in the UN Conference of States Parties to the CRPD.
Priorities until the end of the mandate include:
- Further actions regarding de-institutionalisation and independent living.
- Efforts to unblock the Equal Treatment Directive.
- Children and older people with disabilities.
- Passenger Rights.
- Assistive Technology.
He concludes that a priority will also be to reinforce collaboration with other equality Intergroups.
MEP Kósa highlighted efforts from MEPs regarding the accessibility of the European Parliament’s building and the need to be more inclusive as a public administration (including as employer, its internal processes, and for visitors). There are discussions to appoint a coordinator in the European Parliament services. MEP Maxová added later that they also discussed accessibility of communication like easy-to-read, and speech-to-text.
Petition on rights of deaf citizens to submit petitions in national sign languages
MEP Ádám Kósa presented an ongoing petition regarding the need for deaf citizens to submit a petition in national sign language. He explained that there is some progress on it, as the Parliament’s Secretary-General and the chair of the Committee of Petitions are interested in a positive resolution.
He asked the Disability Intergroup to support this process and to have it implemented before the European elections.
5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities
Members of the European Parliament shared their feedback regarding the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities:
- Vice-President of EDF Pat Clarke shared that the event was a success for the movement and highlighted the approval of the Manifesto for the European Elections, asking that MEPs support it and promote it in their political parties.
- MEP Tilly Metz shared the enthusiasm of the Luxembourgish delegation.
MEP Monica Semedo closed the meeting by thanking participants and indicating that another meeting will be organising before the end of the mandate and that this could be focus on the upcoming European elections.