A delegation led by our President met the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Roxana Mînzatu, on 28 May to advocate for clear actions to advance our rights. Vice-President Mînzatu is responsible for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness and, notably, oversees the work of the Commissioner for Equality.
During the meeting we discussed the EU budget for 2028-2034 (known as the Multiannual Financial Framework). In light of many looming risks to continued support for the rights of persons with disabilities using EU funding, we recalled that the next Budget must:
- Properly fund organisations of persons with disabilities and NGOs working on human rights;
- Ensure a strong cohesion policy that finances social inclusion for persons with disabilities and accessible infrastructure.
- Keep the so-called ‘enabling conditions’ that direct managing authorities not to spend money on infrastructure or projects that are inaccessible, or against our human rights. These conditions must be reinforced to guarantee EU funds do not finance segregated living settings.
- Increase funding for housing that is accessible and affordable for persons with disabilities, and ensure that EU funds respect non-discrimination and accessibility for persons with disabilities.
In terms of specific actions we would like EU funding to be directed towards in future, we discussed our request, already conveyed to Commissioner Lahbib, for the European Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 to be updated with new, ambitious actions.
We talked in particular about our demand for a new Disability Employment and Skills Guarantee as an important contribution to the Vice-President’s goal of creating a ‘Union of Skills’. This Guarantee would support the development of skills and the integration of persons with disabilities in the open labour market with the tools necessary to achieve success and satisfaction at work.
The delegations agreed on working towards a fairer, equal Europe for persons with disabilities.
Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu stated:
The European guarantee for employment and skills for people with disabilities is one of the key proposals of the European Disability Forum, an organisation representing the interests of over 100 million people and including more than 100 organisations from Member States. I had a very productive discussion at the European Commission with Ioannis Vardakastanis, on the importance of the European Social Fund+ and its inclusion in future budgets to implement measures that help people with disabilities enjoy their rights, autonomy, and opportunities to work in a labour market that needs the talent and contributions of each individual.
Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum, said:
I clearly conveyed to Vice-President Mînzatu the need to support persons with disabilities and our organisations through dedicated funding. The Disability Employment and Skills Guarantee is a clear example of how the EU Budget can be used for good.