Last week, Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli announced that a new Disability Equality Strategy will be put in place, replacing the one that expires in 2020. The work to shape the new strategy has begun and today, the European Parliament’s Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL Committee) debated a draft resolution on the EU disability strategy post 2020.
To ensure that the right to Independent Living is sufficiently promoted by the upcoming strategy, the European Network on Independent Living – ENIL has put forward three main recommendations:
1. End institutional care. Promote access to community-based services and Personal Assistance.
2. Involve European citizens to improve the transparency and effectiveness of EU Funds.
3. Promote freedom of movement for all disabled Europeans.
In addition, we are asking that disability is mainstreamed across all policy areas, because independent living is about being fully included and participating in all parts of society.
We have submitted our comments on the draft EP resolution and are working with Members of the European Parliament in Brussels, in order to raise awareness about the importance of advancing access to Independent Living through the new Disability Strategy. We encourage our members and allies to reach out to their MEPs, in their countries, and lobby for a stronger and more effective post 2020 strategy.
Download ENIL’s Proposals for the Post 2020 European Disability Strategy
