ENIL EU Election Campaign
Uploaded by Tanja Richter Thursday, 07 May 2009
Last week, ENIL started a campaign to lobby for Independent Living among candidates for the elections to the European Parliament. Elections will take place between 4th and 7th June 09 in 27 states. There is no uniform election system, each member state has its own voting system.
ENIL sent its members and networkers a mail to forward to the candidates and a statement that they are asked to sign. Together with the statement the candidates will get a question about the free movement of assistant users in Europe.
ENIL will publish the responses and non-responses on its website.
Since there is no uniform voting system, there is no general website that lists all candidates. ENIL will collect information about elections and candidates in different countries and publish them on the ENIL website.
Jump directly to answers of the candidates
So far, we have:
Austria:
http://www.europarl.at/view/de/AKTUELLES/Schwerpunktthemen/Europawahl_2009/Kandidatenliste.html;jsessionid=3F65F10CBA8E3DFB923B10C516B1CF3F and http://www.meinparlament.at
Estonia: http://www.europarl.ee/view/et/Eesti.html;jsessionid=BBBEDE20B5422DBEC60132090B2B08E4
Finland: http://www.europarl.fi/
Germany: http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/europawahlen/EU_BUND_09/wahlbewerber/ and http://www.kandidatenwatch.de
Ireland: http://www.europeanelections.ie/candidates.html and
www.candidatewatch.ie
Luxemburg: http://www.politikercheck.lu/
The Netherlands
http://www.kiesraad.nl/nl/Overige_Content/Bestanden/pdf_thema/Publicatie_Kandidatenlijsten.pdf
Sweden: http://www.val.se/val/ep2009/valsedlar/index.html
Spain: http://elecciones.mir.es/europeas2009/
The UK http://www.europarl.org.uk/section/european-elections/candidates
Video: Questions and Answers about EU disability-related politics
Members of the European Parliament answer the question “Is Europe accessible?”
http://www.europarltv.europa.eu/yourVoice.aspx?action=viewVideo&packageId=b2bb27a0-2dbb-4336-add8-ad6faf1e7d6c
In our election campaign we ask candidates for the EU parliament to sign a statement.
When I am elected Member of the European Parliament I will support disabled peoples' human rights and will:
- work towards a European-wide policy on Personal Assistance
- take steps to address the institutionalization of disabled people enabling all disabled people to live in the community with full support for independent living.
- consult with organisations of disabled people (run and controlled by disabled people with experience in independent living) on strategies and legislation regarding disability
- undertake action to highlight and address the range of Human Rights abuses that many people with disabilities experience
Furthermore we ask the candidates about their opinion in regard to the freedom of movement for disabled people.
One of the key stones of the European Community is to enable free movement of European people throughout Europe. However, this is not possible for many disabled people who use personal assistance, who subsequently have their rights as Europeans denied.
The candidates can state their plans to change this situation.
Here is an overview of the answers given by the candidates:
#col3 table tr { border-bottom: 1px #000 solid; } #col3 table tr td, #col3 table tr th { margin-left: 5px; padding: 1px; }| Candidate | Party | Country | Agrees to principles? | Statement in regard to freedom of movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Frieda Brepoels | N-VA | Belgium | yes | Through parliamentary activities (supporting legislative proposals, asking questions, participating in awareness raising activities, meeting stakeholders, supporting written declarations, ...) |
| Nelly Maes | EVA | Belgium | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=184 |
| Kathleen Van Brempt | SP.A | Belgium | yes | By working on a more encompassing anti-discrimination directive that offers better protection for the rights of disabled people. As minister for equal opportunities in Flanders, I have fought hard over the past five years to ensure disabled people are able to participate fully in the community and I will continue this engagement. |
| Anne Van Lancker | sp.a | Belgium | yes | I hope the Council will soon adopt the new directive on non-discrimination of people with disabilities, that parliament already approved some weeks ago, because that will help to fight discrimination of disabled people using personal assistance. Mutual recognition of systems of personal assistance, even in countries where personal assistance does not exist yet, should facilitate their free movement. The new parliament should press for a comprehensive action plan to ensure respect for all rights for people with disabilities. Exchange of best practises from countries that do have a system of personal assistance, can help to generalise this system and will contribute to the elimination of obstacles to free movement. It would be useful for our parliamentary work if ENIL would provide us with clear examples about what goes wrong. |
| Alexander Alvaro | FDP | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=176 |
| Bernhard Rapkay | SPD | Germany | ? | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=183 |
| Birgit Schnieber-Jastram | CDU | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=180 |
| Brigitte Wenzel-Perillo | CDU | Germany | yes | Unionsweit sollte ein Konsens gefunden werden für die Schaffung von Barrierefreiheiten im öffentlichen Nahverkehr, damit Behinderte europaweit ungehindert reisen können,Barrierefreiheit auch für Information und Kommunikation - wie z. B. eine europaweite grundsätzliche Anerkennung der Gebärdensprache und auch ein europaweites barrierefreies Internet für Sehschwache. Zur Forderung und Durchsetzung gehört dann aber auch ein Mittel der Kontrolle, das die Einhaltung aller "Errungenschaften" garantiert. |
| Dr. Andreas Schwab | CDU/ EVP | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=181 |
| Dr. Doris Pack | CDU | Germany | yes | zu 1. sollte ich wiedergewählt werden, müssten Sie mir bitte erklären, wie die aussehen kann zu 2. dies ist eine Aufgabe der lokalen Einheiten, nicht der EU; zu 3. der Sachverstand der Betroffenen wird im EP immer zurate gezogen zu 4. die Antidiskriminierungsrichtlinie wirkt genau in diesem Sinne |
| Dr. Inge Gräßle | CDU | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=185 |
| Dr. Thomas Ulmer | CDU | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=177 |
| Dr. Werner Langen | Chairman of the CDU/CSU group | Germany | - | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=179 |
| Elisabeth Jeggle | CDU | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=178 |
| Erika Mann | SPD | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=188 |
| Jan Philipp Albrecht | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / Greens/EFA | Germany | yes | I want to work for a borderless society, especially for people with disabilities. Every decision has to implement and follow this aim. |
| Jorgo Chatzimarkakis | FDP | Germany | ? | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=182 |
| Markus Ferber | CSU | Germany | no (see comment) | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=186 |
| Martin Kastler | CSU | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=187 |
| Matthias Wehrmeyer | SPD | Germany | yes | The legitimate interests of disabled people are well known to me, because I'm professionally involved. (I am head of the Lower Saxony care administration.) In the event of my election, I will my knowledge of the relevant committee involved |
| Monika Borchert-Bösele | SPD | Germany | yes | Ich selber habe vor mehr als 20 Jahren einen Verein zur Integration behinderter Menschen mitgegründet, war viele Jahre in Einrichtungen zur Betreuung behinderter Kinder tätig. Viele Jahre meines Lebens habe ich diesem Thema gewidment. Seien Sie sicher, dass meine Grundhaltung zum menschlichen Leben mit und ohne Behinderung immer positiv ist. |
| Renate Schmidtsdorff-Aiche | Die Frauen | Germany | yes | Act acc. 3rd principle above, design changes of laws and rules together with them, not only for them. Especially, request "free transport and free access" for personal assistants. |
| Sabine Scherbaum | Feministische Partei DIE FRAUEN | Germany | yes | Die proklamierte europäische Reise- und Aufenthaltsfreiheit muss für Menschen mit Assistenzbedarf ebenso gelten wie für Menschen ohne Behinderungen. Wir werden die Vorschläge der entsprechenden Interessensverbände hier gerne aufgreifen und uns für deren Umsetzung einsetzen. Der doppelt belasteten Situation von behinderten Frauen muss dabei angemessen Rechnung getragen werden. |
| Ska Keller | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / Greens/EFA | Germany | yes | We Greens are fighting for travelling without obstacles. For example, we supported an initiative to oblige all air companies to take passengers with special abilities on board. Personal assistants should of course be able to travel along in the whole of Europe. |
| Thomas Händel together with Ilja Seifert | Die Linke/European Left | Germany | yes | The European Union is based on values and should thus first and foremost embrace the values expressed in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The existing European action plan "Equal opportunities for people with disabilities" covers the period of 2004 until 2010. Europe needs an updated action plan, which acknowledges the provisions of the Convention and facilitates its implementation at the European and member state levels.We especially demand improvements regarding personal assistance, accessible infrastructure and means of transport as well as a universal European handicapped ID. |
| Ulrike Foraci | SPD | Germany | yes | - |
| Wolfgang Klinz | FDP | Germany | yes | The FDP wants disabled people to live a self-determined and as independent as possible a life in all areas of our community. We promote a barrierless infrastructure and the unrestricted possibility to fully participate in the labour market. The FDP fully supports the UN convention on the rights for people with disabilities, but points out that national legislation now has to reflect and implement the strengthened rights of disabled people. |
| Martin Häusler | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / Greens/EFA | Germany | yes | I support the free movement of disabled people and this should include their personal assistance and vote for a policy to enable this. |
| Constanze Krehl | SPD | Germany | yes | - |
| Klaus Buchner | Oekologisch-Demokratische Partei | Germany | yes | These rights follow at least in principle from the non-discrimination rules laid down in the European Treaties. Therefore it is the duty of the Commission to make sure that the above mentioned situation is changed. One must keep in mind that the European Parliament has not the rights usually attributed to the parliament in a democratic state. In particular, it has not the right to take any legal initiative. But its members can press their national governments to start an initiative in the council forcing the Commission to react. |
| Jutta Steinruck | SPD | Germany | - | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=189 |
| Barbara Weiler | SPD | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=190 |
| Heide Rühle | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / Greens/EFA | Germany | yes | - |
| Gaby Rolland | SPD | Germany | ? | Alle Menschen in der Europäischen Union haben das Recht auf Freizügigkeit-egal ob sie eine Behinderung haben oder nicht. Das ist ein Grundrecht - auch nach der Charta der Grundrechte für alle Bürgerinnen und Bürger. Allerdings sehen die sozialen Regelungen für die bessere Einbindung von Menschen mit Behinderungen sehr unterschiedlich aus. Eine einheitliche Regelung darüber auf europäischer Ebene ist (noch) nicht der Fall. Sicher gibt es dringenden Handlungsbedarf, den ich auch gerne einfordere. Ich lebe in Baden-Württemberg - einem reichen Bundesland. Hier ist es aufgrund der konservativ eingestellten Regierung nicht möglich, dass behinderte und nichtbehinderte Kinder zusammen unterrichtet werden. Obwohl alle Modellversuche gezeigt haben, dass das für beide Gruppen nur förderlich ist. Das ist für mich ein Skandal. |
| Rebecca Harms | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / EFA/Greens | Germany | yes | - |
| Reinhard Bütikofer | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / EFA/Greens | Germany | yes | - |
| Michael Cramer | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / EFA/Greens | Germany | yes | - |
| Knut Fleckenstein | SPD | Germany | - | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=194 |
| Fanziska Brantner | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / EFA/Greens | Germany | yes | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen is in favour of regulations that allow a barrier-free traveling of disabled people within Europe. In 2005 we supported a law that obliged all airline companies (including low budget airlines) also to transport disabled people. We furthermore support regulations which allow disabled people to take their personal assistant with them, while they travel through Europe. As you might know, we are advocating for a strong new EU Antidiscrimination law, please see www.eu-anti-diskriminierung.de for my personal engagement. |
| Rebecca Harms | Bündnis 90/Die Grünen / EFA/Greens | Germany | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=198 |
| Alyn Smith | SNP | Scotland | yes | we in the SNP believe that all citizens of the EU should enjoy the rights enshrined in European law. The EU has embarked upon a discussion on the future of European disability policy and how that policy should develop after 2010. The SNP in the European Parliament will work alongside organisations of disabled people to ensure their voices are heard - and their rights are fully upheld in future policy development. |
| Dr Aileen McLeod | SNP | Scotland | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=173 |
| Alfedo Rodriguez Perez | Unión Progreso y Democracia | Spain | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=175 |
| Cristina Chamorro Muñoz | Unión Progreso y Democracia | Spain | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=174 |
| Chris Foote-Woods | Liberal Democrats | UK | yes | - |
| Dr. Peter Hirst | Liberal Democrats | UK | yes | By ensuring that their personal assistants are covered for all countries that they are travelling to before they depart and easing the criteria for that authorisation and in extreme cases making the host country provide adequate help at their expense or create cheap insurance to cover it. It is a matter of showing flexibility on both sides so disabled people can have the use of a personal assistance wherever they travel in the eu. Where there is a will there is a way. Or more political commitment. |
| Linda Jack | Liberal Democrats | UK | yes | I totally support your campaign. I am only in politics because I am so committed to equality and justice for all. The way those with disabilities are still treated is a disgrace and it has to be a priority for all those elected on June 4th to further remove the barriers to true equality. I will do all I can if elected to further your objectives. |
| Caroline Lucas | Green Party | UK | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=193 |
| Rebecca Taylor | Liberal Democrats | UK | yes | If elected to the European Parliament, I would be happy to lend my support to disability organisations and to bring forward disability related issues. |
| Martin Hemingway | Green Party | UK | yes | I do not know if I will get round to exploring all the details in your e-mail. I am familiar with some disability issues - my father taught the visualy impaired for most of his life, and I have a little understanding of other disabilities. I can assure you that support for those with disabilities is high on my personal agenda, and on the agenda that I want to pursue when elected. I will be happy to support ENIL in its work in Europe. |
| R. Mark Clayton | LIberal Democrats | UK | yes | Look fine to me. I have no difficulty in supporting your position in pronciple. |
| Andy Large | Conservatives | UK | ? | Thanks for your email and the information provided. I am still formulating my views on this important matter, so I do not have a specific comment to make at this time. |
| Leslie Rowe | Green Party European Candidate for Yorkshire & Humber | UK | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=192 |
| Bill Newton Dunn | Liberal Democrats | UK | yes | I am entirely for helping the disabled to live a full normal life and to try to help remove the obstructions that exist in Britain and in the EU.I can do nothing on my own. Nor can anybody else. In politics you can get only get things done if a majority is with you. |
| Brian Simpson | Labour Party | UK | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=191 |
| Keith Taylor | Green Party | UK | yes | I would support basic human rights as part of the purpose of the EU, and support incorporating the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights within any EU constitution. An important part of human rights is to prevent discrimination based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, age or religion. We must also take action to ensure that people do not suffer unfair discrimination on grounds of social origin Our full EU manifesto is at http://www.greenparty.org.uk/assets/files/EU_Manifesto_2009.pdf |
| Rupert Matthews. | conservative party | UK | yes | Thank you for your email. I am afraid that this close to an election I have many demands on my time and am unable to give a detailed response. I can only pass on to you our general policy. As a matter of policy Conservative candidates stand on the manifesto of the Conservative Party - available on the website www.conservatives.com. We are not allowed to sign up to any other manifesto, pledge or promise no matter how much we may agree with it. The manifesto is available on www.conservatives.com, so you may find something relevant there. |
| Janet Sully | Labour Party | UK | yes | I have pleasure in giving my support to this vital issue. |
| Amdrew Duff | Liberal Democrats | UK | yes | Like my Liberal Democrat colleagues, I am strongly committed to the principle of equal treatment for all EU citizens. In the context of disability, it is clear that the only way of ensuring that disabled people enjoy equal rights is to provide them with adequate support wherever in the EU they are. I shall, if re-elected, continue to support measures to achieve this. |
| Arlene McCarthy | Labour Party | UK | yes | European rights must be accessible to all Europeans. That is why I have campaigned for EU legislation to ban all forms of discrimination in the European Union. EU law already bars discrimination of all types in the field of employment. But we must go further and ensure that all goods and services are made accessible to all people, including those with specific access needs. I have successfully put forward amendments to telecoms legislation, working hand in hand with disabled people organisations, to ensure equal access is introduced in phone, internet, and other communication services. I have backed rights for disabled passengers in the transport sector. I will continue to work hard for the adoption of broad legislation against all discrimination in the provision of goods and services, with specific measures to empower and enable people with disabilities to benefit from what the EU has to offer. Thank you |
| Linda McAvan | Labour Party | UK | yes | I will continue to support measures which ensures that disabled passengers have equal rights and that people with disabilities have equal access to services within the EU. |
| Ute MICHEL | Green Party | UK | yes | This constitutes double discrimination - on the grounds of disability and in terms of freedom of movement, and either of them is unacceptable and must be addressed urgently. The Greens in the European Parliament have led on pushing for a strong Anti-Discrimination Directive which is extending anti-discrimination to accessing goods and services, and London's Green MEP Jean Lambert in particular has done a lot of work on this and with stakeholder organizations. I worked for the Disability Intergroup in the European Parliament in the late 1990s (as well as for disability organisations at different levels) and would join this as an MEP if elected, to in order to work with Jean Lambert, who is also a member, and the other MEPs to promote disability issues, ensure rights are upheld and breaches of rights and legislation are raised and tackled. This would include monitoring the implementation of EU legislation in member states, raising awareness of the responsibility of service providers as well as taking up individual casework for constituents. |
| Giles Chichester | Conservative Party | UK | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=196 |
| Stephen S Hughes | Labour Party | UK | yes | I have during my time as an MEP supported the human rights of disabled people in all of the work I do. If re-elected I will press ahead with my work removing discrimination in the provision of services -- an important first step in ending discrimination outside the workplace and in society generally. |
| Diana Wallis | Liberal Democrat Party | UK | yes | http://www.enil.eu/enil/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=195 |
| Graham Watson | Liberal Democrat Party | UK | yes | My Liberal Democrat colleague Liz Lynne MEP headed the Parliamentgs report on the proposed Anti Discrimination Directive; and my Liberal group in the European Parliament has fought for this from the beginning of this Commission's term of office. I am pleased that the definition of discrimination will now cover the main spectrum of minorities - including disabled people - and it will apply to clients and consumers, as well as employees. It is right that people should be able to do their jobs and live their lives free from prejudice and able to access relevant goods and services. |
| Hannes Swoboda and Christa Prets | Social Democratic Party | Austria | yes | We are happy to define our position concerning the rights of handicapped people. As social democrats we refuse any kind of discrimination, be it due to sex, sexual orientation, religious conviction, origin, social background or some kind of disability. It is the responsibility of politics to create the general framework within which these rights are implicitly granted. Nobody must be confronted with disadvantages because of his life situation. Especially infrastructure has to change in order to become accessible to the disabled. We need to force the construction of accessible buildings to permit handicapped people participance in everyday life. Accessibility has to become self-evident. Many people in our society are challenged in one way and another and it is our duty as politicians to live up to this reality. Travelling must not be a problem any more but a matter of course: On this note we fight for barrier-free means of travel and transport. Also for our work in Brussels this issue is very basic and thus high up on our agenda. |