Featured Image Credit: Jennifer Jacquemart/European Union, 2023
On 20 April 2023, a delegation of the European Disability Forum led by President Yannis Vardakastanis and Executive Committee Member Maureen Piggot met European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira. The meeting was used to discuss how EU Funds can be used to advance the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
EDF’s delegation discussed several pressing issues with the Commissioner. The delegation arrived with a strong call to direct services to stop EU Cohesion funds from supporting institutions that segregate persons with disabilities. The delegation showed several examples of how funds have supported institutions that go against the letter and spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, notably in Poland, Bulgaria and Austria.
The Commissioner called on disability organisations to alert the services of the European Union whenever funds are not appropriately used.
Participants discussed the importance of involving organisations of persons with disabilities in the monitoring of these funds, which despite being a requirement of the funding regulations, often does not happen in practice. The method to complain and seek redress was also mentioned.
Hand in hand with this involvement, the delegation called on the European Commission to use the funds to finance data collection on persons with disabilities in the EU living in institutions – especially by monitoring achievement in reducing numbers of children and adults with disabilities living in institutions – as well as studies to review how well the Member States are implementing the rules outlined in the EU’s funding regulations.
Nevertheless, delegates recognised the improvements in the last regulations for the EU Cohesion Policy and how it enabled good practices, including support for processes of transition to community living in Romania, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria. Our Executive Member Maureen Piggot underlined in particular how EU Funds should be used as incentives to also channel national funding away from segregating practices and towards infrastructure that facilitates inclusion in society.
The European Disability Forum outlined areas where the EU Cohesion funds need to support disability rights:
- Funding housing programs that support living in the community – such as renovations to make existing buildings accessible;
- Funding accessible infrastructure – hospitals, schools, and cultural venues, among others;
Yannis Vardakastanis, President of EDF and chief of delegation, stated:
EU Funds greatly impact how governments support persons with disabilities – I see it in my home country of Greece. However, as we informed the Commissioner, such funds are being used to develop institutions that segregate us – and where abuse is widespread. I asked her to direct her services to support managing authorities in stopping this!
Maureen Piggot, EDF Executive Committee Member, added:
EU Funds have a critical role to play in achieving the shift from institutional care to community-based solutions that enable persons with disabilities to live, learn, work and play alongside others. These funds should be used where they have the most impact in removing barriers to living in ordinary houses, attending ordinary schools or colleges, having a job and participating in sports, the arts and other social activities.
European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said:
The European Commission attaches great importance to the respect of rights of persons with disabilities in all Member States of the European Union. The Cohesion policy funds support the deinstitutionalisation process in line with the UNCPRD and focus on development of family and community-based services and conditions for independent living. I welcome the engagement of organisations like EDF, representing and defending the rights of persons with disabilities and strongly encourage their involvement in the design of projects supported by cohesion policy.”