Credits: European Union, 2023
On 2 May 2023, a delegation of the European Disability Forum led by President Yannis Vardakastanis met European Commission’s Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová. The EDF delegation underlined how the EU could support Member States to ensure the full involvement of persons with disabilities in the democratic process – including eliminating barriers to vote and standing as a candidate.
EDF’s delegation started by thanking the Vice-President’s agreement to speak at the upcoming European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities, which will bring together 600 persons with disabilities to Brussels on 23 May.
The delegations focused on the upcoming initiatives of the European Commission to foster political participation, specifically guidelines on accessible elections. EDF’s President, Yannis Vardakastanis, underlined that organisations of persons with disabilities must be involved. Vice-President Jourová called on national and local organisations of persons with disabilities to contact national ministries and ensure the Member States include their inputs.
EDF suggested that the upcoming High-level meeting on political participation includes a panel on those facing disproportionate barriers to participating in public life, including persons with disabilities.
Vice-President Věra Jourová was informed of the findings of the EDF’s Human Rights Report on Political Participation, specifically:
- Persons with disabilities under guardianship are automatically denied the right to vote in 7 countries: Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Luxembourg, Poland, and Romania) – in seven other countries, there is the possibility of restricting their right to vote (Belgium, Czechia, Hungary, Lithuania, Malta, Portugal, and Slovenia).
- Only 8 countries uphold the right to stand for office for all persons with disabilities without exemption (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Spain, Croatia, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden).
- Greece and Malta do not allow persons with disabilities to freely choose a person to help them cast their vote
- Given that there are 27 de facto separate elections and countries use different systems and ways to vote, there are multiple practical barriers concerning accessibility that prevent many persons with disabilities from exercising their democratic rights.
EDF also shared the recommendations arising from the report:
- Persons with disabilities, through their representative organisations, should be consulted and involved in the processes concerning EU elections;
- Accessibility, free choice of assistance and reasonable accommodation must be incorporated into all elections proceedings, facilities, and materials;
- EU must influence countries to ensure the right to vote and stand for election regardless of legal capacity status;
- The Directives on political participation of mobile EU citizens must ensure that voting rights of persons with disabilities living must prevail regardless of the country of origin or residence;
Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the European Disability Forum, stated:
A true democracy, a real democratic process, must involve everyone. We, persons with disabilities, have the right to have a say in all decisions that affect us – like any other person. Today, we call on Vice-President Jourová to help us fully realise this right!
European Commission’s Vice-President for Values and Transparency, Věra Jourová, said:
We must ensure that persons with disabilities can cast their vote effectively. The Commission is ready to assist the Member States to put in place conditions for free and fair exercise of electoral rights of persons with disabilities, and review possible remaining legal barriers regarding their participation in line with relevant international standards.