Create Accessible Workplaces! The Hungarian Practice May Again Be a Model for Europe

Ádám Kósa turned to the European Commission last December, asking how many people with disabilities are employed in EU institutions. In its written answer this February, the Commission was unable to provide any exact data on the number of employees with disabilities, nor what kind of disabilities they have. MEP Kósa then followed up by questioning directly Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Vice President of the European Commission, responsible for Human Resources.

“If Member States are required to collect data on the number of people with disabilities and the kind of disabilities they have, then EU institutions – to demonstrate a good example – must do the same”, Kósa reminded Commissioner Georgieva.

The representative of the Commission made a promise to improve the data collection methods but denounced the introduction of a quota for employment of people with disabilities, claiming that other groups – minorities or women – would then require similar positive discrimination and this would work against the principle of merit-based career advancement.

Kósa welcomed the European Commission’s readiness to act for the concrete realization of social inclusion. The Fidesz MEP urged the Commission to examine the best practices of Member States in the fields of positive discrimination, accessibility of workplaces and the use of incentives and to apply these best practices in the institutions of the European Union. Hungary offers an outstanding example of how the combination of a quota system, targeted assistance and tax deductions help more and more people with disabilities to find jobs. Although there is still a lot to do in our country, Hungary and other Member States that have introduced a quota system may provide a model for the EU to follow.