On the 16th of February 2022, 9 Members of the European Parliament (EP) Disability Intergroup have sent a joint letter to EP President Roberta Metsola requesting for all parliamentary activities to take place both online and in a physical presence.
After the successful implementation of the hybrid model since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, in its letter, the members of the Disability Intergroup also highlight the obligation of the EP as a public administration of a State Party to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to provide reasonable accommodation to those who require it either because of a disability or a health-related condition. Allowing flexibility for MEPs and EP staff to choose, when necessary, the hybrid model would contribute to ensuring their equal, continuous, and constant access to parliamentary activities, as well as their work-life balance.
In its letter, the European Parliament Disability Intergroup also refers to the Commission‘s proposal for an inter-institutional solemn declaration on digital rights and principles for the digital decade, pointing out that the digital transformation and the inter-institutional declaration should translate into actions ensuring the right of everyone to have access to fair working conditions, reasonable accommodation, health, and safety.
Photo credit: © European Union 2020 – Source : EP