Advancing Disability Inclusion in the European Union

EU Strategy for Disability Rights (1996)

In 1996, the European Union's strategy for disabled people was consolidated with the European Commission Communication on Equal Opportunities for Disabled People. This document incorporates standardized rules on the Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1993, and is committed to the notion of the right to accommodation of differences.

The Communication acknowledges that 10% of the population are disabled people who are excluded from rights and opportunities in a large majority of areas such as work, education, accessibility, mobility, housing, and welfare services, where coverage is insufficient and participation of those affected is limited.

To address this situation, the strategy rests on three pillars:

• Cooperation between Member States: Facilitated by the European Interparliamentary Disability Group and a High-Level Group composed of state representatives, to assess political developments and exchange information and experiences.
• The full participation of disabled people in planning: Through support for social initiatives and ongoing dialogue with the European Disability Forum.
• The mainstreaming of attention across all sector policies: It is understood that improving the quality of life for disabled people affects the entire EU agenda and Member States' policies. This cross-sectoral approach is secured by the Inter-service Disability Group.

Horizontal Approach and Key Areas

The horizontal approach to ensuring full access for disabled people is integrated into the European Employment Strategy, the Community Program for Combating Social Exclusion, and their counterparts in Spain: National Employment Plans and National Plans against Poverty and Social Exclusion.

Within this EU approach, special attention is paid to key areas for improving the quality of life and full integration of disabled people, such as training, employment, and accessibility, including new information environments.

Disabled people face difficulties in finding or maintaining employment, despite increased recognition of equality. Therefore, the EU develops tools and programs to achieve genuine equality in the labor market. The Council Recommendation on equal employment opportunities for disabled people and the Directive establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation reflect the necessity of making reasonable accommodations for disabled job seekers, supporting affirmative action for national policies, and providing legal guarantees of employment for this group.

Key European Union Programs for Inclusion

Through the European Social Fund, the EU has funded programs. In the 1990s, this included the Horizon program within the Community Initiative Employment. Since 2000, funding has been provided under the EQUAL program.

This focus on equal access is the linchpin of the Community strategy outlined in the communication "Towards a Europe without Barriers for Disabled People," with a special focus on mobility, consumer rights, new technologies, and the information society.

Mobility is a central component of European citizenship. Therefore, actions are taken concerning public transport for people with reduced mobility. A Europe without barriers will emerge from strengthening access to public transportation, establishing Trans-European Networks (TEN) that favor integration, and integrating the needs of disabled people into the research framework program and the promotion of best practices, as established by the network of local and regional authorities in cooperation with the European Information Service on Urban Transport.

In a Europe without barriers, there is greater protection of the rights and interests of disabled consumers, especially concerning their access to justice, financial services, and product safety. This specifically involves a new regulatory framework for electronic communications accessibility and associated services.

The application of research and technology to healthcare is another line of action within the European program, also addressed by this communication strategy's new community definition.