News

European Summit on disabilities

2011. 12. 06.

Highest level European leaders discussed European disability policy today in Brussels, in the Commission's main building. Among the distinguished participants we found Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council; José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission; Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament; Viviane Reding, European Commissioner for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship and Ádám Kósa single sign language user MEP. Civil society on the summit has been represented by the European Disability Forum.

Roma Strategy: Further tasks ahead to succeed

2011. 11. 16.

Today, the European Parliament held a plenary debate in Strasbourg to discuss the situation of Roma in the Member States. In her speech, Hungarian Fidesz MEP Lívia Járóka pointed out the four tasks that wait for the EU institutions: the evaluation and possible revision of national Roma inclusion strategies by the Commission; the development of a European crisis map evaluating the most disadvantaged micro-regions; the modification of the next Multiannual Financial Framework and the full transposition and implementation of the EU directive on equal treatment.

Clear distinction between good and failed practices is the key for successful Roma integration programs

2011. 11. 08.

Today, in the European Parliament, the Open Society Foundation hosted a conference titled „National Roma Strategies – Ensuring a Comprehensive and Effective European Approach”. In her video message, MEP Lívia Járóka urged to draw lessons of the so called "Decade of Roma Inclusion Program"; the strict and independent monitoring of Roma inclusion projects and full compliance with the principles and schedule of the recently adopted European Framework for National Roma Strategies.

Disability: people with disabilities as sustainable investments – revolutionary steps for handling challenges of ageing Europe.

2011. 10. 25.

"Inclusion of the 80 million people with disabilities in the European Union is of the utmost importance for handling and creating a more active and sustainable ageing society in Europe. Their social and labour market inclusion offers a previously-neglected opportunity for meeting Europe's future workforce needs. People with disabilities and older people could be the real answer to the general shortage in the active and working population", highlighted Ádám Kósa MEP on the adoption of his Report on the mobility and inclusion of people with disabilities and the EU Disability Strategy 2010-2020. The Report aims to introduce a revolutionary approach to disability, promotes barrier-free accessibility, special communication techniques for the deaf and the hard-of-hearing, and proposes a new pattern of inclusive education systems.

Social inclusion of people with disabilities: a sustainable investment

2011. 10. 24.

The inclusion of 80 million people with disabilities in the European Union, 16% of its population, is of utmost importance for creating a more active and sustainable ageing society in Europe. Making efforts, rather than promises, to actually achieve their inclusion socially and in the labour market offers a previously neglected opportunity for meeting and understanding Europe's future workforce needs. Apart from migration, people with disabilities and elderly people could be a real answer to the general shortage in the active and working population. Amongst others, this is one of the main goals of EPP Group MEP Ádám Kósa's proposals, which will be voted on in the European Parliament this month.