Improvements in the areas of accessibility and inclusion are fostered, among others, thanks to networking exchanges that take place between stakeholders. As is the case each year, an EBU delegation was invited to participate in the 2023 European Day of Persons with Disabilities (EDPD). Hosted by the European Commission in Brussels on 30th November and 1st December. The event gathered more than 400 policy-makers, high-level experts and disability advocates across the EU.
With the 2024 European Elections coming up in six months, political participation was undoubtedly one of the key subjects for discussion. The focus panel on this topic featured, among others, Armin Watsch, from Election Watch EU, who reminded authorities about the importance of implementing legislation aimed at promoting inclusion for people with disabilities both as voters and as candidates standing for election. In line with this, disability activist Susanna van Tonder also emphasized that protecting them from discrimination and harassment while joining political and public life is also part of ensuring the implementation of article 29 of the UNCRPD. Furthermore, our Executive Director, Lars Bosselmann, made a contribution to the following Q&A discussion by pinpointing the European Council’s lack of response to the European Parliament’s legislative resolution calling for a reform of the EU Electoral Law, which contains important elements regarding the accessibility of elections.
Afterwards, in the context of the European Year of Skills, the hosts brought forward a debate about the current obstacles for people with disabilities in their access to the labour market. Monika Chaba, Disability Policy Officer at the European Commission, presented the tools that have been designed so far in the context of the Disability Employment Package for ensuring the equal right to work. Other panelists of this discussion, such as Patrick Ruppol, Counsellor at the Flemish Employment Agency, underlined public employment services’ role in promoting accessibility and inclusion in this area. Additionally, Claudia Coverney, from the School of Sociology and Social Policy from the University of Leeds, pinpointed the need to raise awareness of current barriers in the access to employment for people with disabilities through data evidence provided by the research community.
At the same time, the EDPD 2023 also served as a discussion forum to evaluate the results of the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 so far. In September, the European Commission drafted a directive for one of the Strategy’s flagship initiatives: the EU Disability Card. Charlotte Aelbrecht, Vice-chair of the European Disability Forum Youth Committee, remembered that while this is a good first step, we all must learn from the pilots that were carried out in the past to ensure its proper implementation. During this debate, Jakub Hrkal, from Eurostat, presented a new plan to collect more specific and accurate information about people with disabilities across the EU. The other panelists also highlighted that effective strategies need to be adapted according to the context they’re trying to change.
A recognition to promoting accessibility
Apart from the focus panels, the EDPD 2023 also hosted the 2024 Edition of the EU Access City Award, a yearly initiative which recognises European cities efforts to become more accessible and inclusive for persons with disabilties.
This year, San Cristóbal de la Laguna (Spain) won the first prize for adopting more accessible urban spaces, transport systems and social activities. Łódź (Poland) and Saint-Quentin (France) ranked second and third respectively: while the former was awarded for guiding municipal investments under accessibility standards, the latter was acknowledged for making its public transport system more inclusive.
Additionally, the ceremony also featured special mentions to Tübingen (Germany), for being developed in line with the principles of accessibility and the New European Bauhaus; and also to South County Dublin (Ireland), for making its landscape and playground areas more accessible.
The hosts showed great enthusiasm for these initiatives, but also for the proposals shared by other cities in the EU who also took part in this contest. Overall, both the awardees and the other participants share a common motto which motivates EBU’s work, as well as that from other disability organisations: accessibility is non-negotiable.