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A more effective EU Disability Strategy is needed after 2020

2019. 12. 18.

Press Release by MEP Ádám Kósa

The European Parliament held a plenary debate with Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality on the renewal of the European Disability Strategy. Fidesz MEP Ádám Kósa drew attention to the need for a comprehensive, well-funded strategy addressing present challenges to help the integration of people with disabilities.

In the debate, Commissioner Dalli committed herself to renew the European Disability Strategy. She stressed that the strategy is one of the new Commission’s priorities, as improving the quality of life and accession to services for people with disabilities are in the interest of all of European citizens. Dalli has pledged to consult with organizations representing people with disabilities and the European Parliament’s Disability Intergroup as part of the post-2020 strategy.

In his written statement, MEP Ádám Kósa recalled that he had been working as a Rapporteur of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020. He noted that in the last ten years the strategy had fulfilled its hopes and made everyday life more accessible for millions of European citizen with disabilities.

Kósa pointed out that the EU has recently achieved great results, such as the adoption of European Accessibility Act or the directive on the accessibility of websites. However, MEP Kósa drew attention to the fact that the past decade has brought rapid changes in other areas, such as digitization, which is both a challenge and a great tool for promoting the integration of people with disabilities.

According to Kósa, it is imperative that we have a strong, complex, enforceable disability strategy for the post-2020 period that responds to the new challenges and fulfills the social inclusion of people in a way that is fully consistent with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Sustainable Development Goals. MEP Kósa also stressed the importance that the monitoring body gets sufficient funding.

“A new approach is needed to the horizontal directive. It is impermissible, that the prohibition of discrimination against people with disabilities cannot be enforced because of dilemmas with other groups”, he emphasized.