Summary of key 2009 European election positions on

disability-related issues of major European political parties[1]

European People's Party

Party of European Socialists

European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party

European Greens

Confederal Group of the European United Left/ Nordic Green Left[2]

European People's Party

http://www.epp-ed.eu   (source : Draft EPP Election Document 2009)

Creating prosperity for everyone

• For us, the European project always had a social dimension... Our primary goal is to strike a balance between flexibility and security and therefore social security systems should be modernised in order to adapt to the new challenges without giving up their most important aims: solidarity and viability... No one should be held back and no one should be left behind. We need to invest in education, life-long learning and employment to create opportunities for all, including employees, youth, newcomers and partially disabled persons.
• For the European People's Party, the creation of new jobs is a core priority. Only if we manage to reach a high level of employment, we will be able to safeguard prosperity for everyone and assure the future of our social security systems in the context of demographic change. Therefore we consider work for everybody as the central goal of our economic and social policy, as well as the most effective shield against poverty and social exclusion.
• The quality and effectiveness of education and training systems and a highly skilled and motivated workforce are essential in order to improve the employability within the European Union.

Tackling the Demographic Challenge - Solutions for the Ageing of our Societies

• Subsidized early retirement should be stopped, unless justified by hazardous conditions for the health of the workers. Unemployment, disability and other welfare benefits must not be used as alternative pathways to an early exit from the labour market. Public services should assist only those elderly workers who want to re-enter the workplace.
• It should be our priority to establish more children-friendly societies by: improving the availability and access to childcare facilities, creating better financial conditions for young couples (through more effective family welfare allocations), family-friendly fiscal policies, and the reduction of social security contributions for parents with disabled children.
• Youth, women, immigrants and elderly workers are particularly affected by either unemployment or labour market inactivity. A greater participation of these categories in the labour market should be encouraged.

Party of European Socialists

http://www.pes.eu   (source : People first: a new direction for Europe)

Relaunching the economy and preventing new financial crisis

• We propose a European Pact for the Future of Employment. All European provrammes should be examined to see how employability and employment opportunities can be safeguarded and improved. EU-funded investment projects should be swiftly implemented. Advantage should be taken of the possibilities offered by the European Social Fund for integrating the unemployed into the labour market and for training workers.
• The EU's Internal Market should be completed - and the red tape facing businesses reduced - to generate more European trade and jobs, based on high environmental and social standards.

New social Europe - giving people a fairer deal

• We propose to seek agreement on a European Social Progress Pact, proposing goals and standards for national social, health and education policy to contribute to the fight against poverty and inequalities as well as the social and economic development of the EU. We demand needs-based social welfare benefits for all those who are retired, unemployed or unable to work in all European countries, to guarantee a life of dignity.
• We are committed to ensuring that EU legislation respects citizens' rights as enshrined in the European Convention on Human Rights and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. We will strengthen anti-discrimination legislation to ensure equal treatment on grounds of gender, race, disability, age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.

Championing gender equality in Europe

• We propose to create a European Women's Rights Charter, to improve women's rights and opportunities and to promote mechanisms to achieve gender equality in all aspects of social, economic and political life.

Enhancing Europe's role as a partner for peace, security and development

• We will use this Parliamentary term to push for efforts to reach [the Millennium Development Goals] by 2015. We therefore propose to put international development goals at the heart of EU policies on aid, trade and the reform of global governance.
• We shall work to ensure that all EU trade agreements include appropriate, enforceable human, environmental and social rights clauses and that all trade agreements with developing countries - such as Economic Partnership Agreements - serve as a real tool for the economic and social development of the countries and regions concerned.

European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party

                                http://www.eldr.eu   (source: European Liberals' top 15 for EP elections - ELDR Manifesto)

Civil liberties

• ELDR demands respect of all fundamental freedoms in the EU, especially freedom of press, thought, speech, liberty of association, religion and ownership, and upholding the rights of minorities and those of individuals to privacy and protection of their personal data and dignity.

EU Single Market, Growth and Employment

• ELDR believes a competitive European business environment is essential to achieve the highest possible standard of living for Europe's citizens and to promoted EU standards at global level.

European Greens

http://www.europeangreens.eu (source: A Green New Deal for Europe (Summary of Manifesto))

• In terms of social policy, the Green New Deal will ensure that social and labour rights are not weakened or sacrificed in the name of competition and that services of common interest are provided in the fairest way possible so that all of our citizens can be protected from social and economic exclusion and enjoy a good quality of life. Greens will continue to defend equal rights for all within and outside the workplace, fight all forms of discrimination and intolerance and take the urgent action required to help the most disadvantaged in society.
• A more democratic EU. Decision-making must be more transparent and democratic participation broadened so that all can make their voice heard, not only powerful lobbies. Freedom of expression must be defended for individuals and the media, as well as the right to privacy and data protection.

European Left

http://www.european-left.org

(Source: Together for Change in Europe! Platform of the Party of the European Left for the elections to the European Parliament 2009)

Overcome the Crisis: People before Profits For a Social and Ecological Economy in Europe

• We reject the Lisbon strategy of "flexicurity". Our priorities are steps against poverty, social marginalization and precariousness, for full employment in regular jobs, increasing wages, pensions and social allowances. Taxes must be raised both on income and capital, allowing redistribution from the top to the bottom.

A democratic and equal Europe

• We stand for the strengthening of individual rights and freedom rights as well as the fundamental social and political rights of all people living in the EU. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights must become legally binding and be further developed. The EU should join the European Convention on Human Rights. The EL [European Left] stands for guaranteeing full equality of women and men in all aspects of life. ..
• The European Union must protect and promote the rights of those who are discriminated because of their ethnic origin, sexual orientation and gender identity, religion ideology, disability and age. We demand the respect of all minority rights and consistent action against ...and any other form of discrimination.