Friday

29th Mar 2024

Disability organisations lobby for protection

Disability organisations are calling for the new EU Constitution to ensure that all legislative measures concerning non-discrimination of disabled people are adopted by qualified majority voting instead of the current unanimity system.

During an exceptional two-day meeting in Brussels the "European Parliament of Disabled People" (EPDP) laid down several demands to ensure the proper integration of disabled people into European society.

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"What better contribution to a social Europe can there be than an EU-wide protection against discrimination for Europe's disabled people", said Yannis Vardakastanis, the president of the European Disability Forum.

European Parliament President Pat Cox assured the 300 delegates that the EPDP event has left MEPs with the duty to "follow up and deliver".

Among other key things that the EPDP wants, is to make sure that the upcoming European Parliament elections are more accessible for people with disabilities, and for disabled candidates.

28 countries were represented when the European Parliament hosted the European Parliament of Disabled People for the second time. The event marked the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Standard rules on the rights of disabled people, as well as the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003.

Disabled people live in 'terror' of the future

As EU governments cut corners on their budgets, welfare spending is usually the first on the chopping block. The decision can be made at the stroke of a pen. But the on-the-ground effects for welfare-dependent disabled people can be devastating.

Ukraine slams grain trade restrictions at EU summit

Restrictions on Ukrainian agricultural exports to the EU could translate into military losses in their bid to stop Russia's war, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned EU leaders during their summit in Brussels on Thursday.

Difficult talks ahead on financing new EU defence spending

With the war in Ukraine showing no signs of ending any time soon, EU leaders will meet in Brussels on Thursday and Friday (21 and 22 March) to discuss how to boost the defence capabilities of Ukraine and of the bloc itself.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

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