EDF: In 2007, the European disability movement collected 1, 3 million signatures across Europe, realizing the citizen's right of initiative enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty, asking the European Union to enact effective legislation for people with disabilities covering all areas of life.

How can the European Left Party contribute to making this demand a reality?

FW

Equal rights and opportunities for all is a central issue for the European Left, for which we stand up and fight for. We support the demand of enacting effective legislation for people with disabilities covering all areas of life. The EU has already been active in this field, e.g. by means of the EU disability action plan (2003- 2010), by promoting the European Year of People with Disabilities (2003) and the European Year of Equal Opportunities for All (2007) to mention but a few activities on a European level. However, more has to be done. The European Left actively supports disadvantaged and discriminated groups in society. We consider disability policy to be a cross-section task, which has to cover all areas of life. We demand the involvement of persons with disabilities in all political issues, in line with the EDF Manifesto "Nothing about disabled persons, without disabled persons". It is vital to involve disabled persons in all areas of life and to establish a platform for discussion and exchange along their needs, concerns and demands. Moreover, EU legislation must mainstream in all policy areas the implications and consequences for persons with disabilities. This has to become an obligatory norm for all actors in politics and society. The European Left is striving to create a truly open-minded society in which barriers in thinking are overcome and in which the knowledge prevails that diversity in society is a benefit to all of us because it means a tremendous enrichment of our lives.   

EDF: The European Parliament is still largely inaccessible to many Europeans with disabilities, who as a consequence feel alienated from Europe. This is especially acute in relation to the website of the EP and of many individual MEPs, to the availability of information in alternative formats and to the limited number of persons with disabilities employed in the Institution.

What actions will the European Left Party undertake to make your work at the European Parliament accessible to all?

FW

We are well aware of the problem that accessibility to the European Parliament is insufficient, also as regards the internet presentation of the EP or individual MEPs. We strongly support the demand for more usability and accessibility for people with disabilities. We regard this area to be crucial as regards anti-discrimination efforts, and we realize that much still needs to be done - also on our side - in order to ensure equal access for all people. It is an ongoing process of raising awareness, for example concerning the private websites of MEPs, and of developing tools to increase accessibility. We know that shortcomings still exist but we are open to criticism and ready to take the necessary steps to monitor access and, if necessary, improve our actions in the field of making our work accessible to all.

EDF: Although there are 65 million persons with disabilities in the EU and one family out of 5 is concerned by disability, persons with disabilities are invisible in the Lisbon Strategy.

How should this be rectified in the views of the European Left Party?

FW:

We are very critical of the Lisbon strategy because it neglects social aspects and we fully support your demand that the special situation of people with disabilities also need to be taken into account in the Lisbon Strategy. For us, the development of a social EU is of crucial importance, and people with disabilities, of course, are part of Europe and have to have the same rights as people without disabilities. We oppose the Lisbon strategy with its restricted orientation on competitiveness and economic issues. Furthermore we also criticize that the Charter of Fundamental Rights is lacking important social rights, i.e. the right to work, and that it is still not legally binding and enforceable.

EDF: Mainstreaming disability across all policy areas will be one the requirements of the conclusion of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and of the implementation of the non discrimination provisions in the Lisbon treaty.

How does the European Left Party envisage mainstreaming disability in the areas beyond the more obvious field of social policy - such as internal market, information and communication technologies, transport, industry, research or external relations?

FW:

As already outlined above, we regard disability policy as a cross-section task, meaning it has to cover all areas of life and fields of politics. Therefore, it is important to mainstream disability in the areas beyond the more field of social policy because it goes without saying that disability policy concerns all areas of life and policy and therefore cannot be limited to the field of social policy. For this reason a broader discussion as to the implications of disability policy is urgent in all policy fields. We find it crucial that all discussions include representatives of non-governmental organizations working in those areas in order to ensure that the interests of people with disabilities are truly reflected in discussions and decisions. Moreover, monitoring and evaluation have to accompany all measures in order to take into account the special implications for people with disability.

EDF: Thousands of people with disabilities live in long-term residential institutions far away from the community, in violation of their basic human rights with no control over basic choices in their daily lives. This is partly due to the lack of access to affordable and accessible services of adequate quality.

FW: What should the response of Europe be in this respect?

The possibility for people with disabilities to live in a self-determined way (if necessary with support of assistants) corresponds to the United Nations Convention. In our view, it is fundamental to include everyone in our society, be they disabled or not. The European Left struggles to have a society in which all people have the opportunity to take part in the community, and in which their different qualifications and abilities are developed and enhanced. Inclusion of all, e.g. in the area of education, living and work, is crucial in this respect. It is of utmost importance to make services affordable and accessible to all. Special help needs to be given also to families of persons with disabilities in order to meet their particular needs and in order to ensure assistance and support where needed.

EDF: The consequences of the financial crisis have been especially severe for the most vulnerable groups of population, including persons with disabilities and their families: the adaptation of a house, or purchase of assistive devices indispensable to gain autonomy and participate actively in the society are often a serious financial burden for persons with disabilities and their families.

What measures does the European Left Party recommend to address it?

FW

Arguing in line with the "European Association for Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities (EASPD)", we also think that disabled people, their families and the service providers should in no case suffer from the consequences of the financial crisis, which they have not caused. In a number of countries, it is the case already under normal circumstances that social and health services for people with disabilities are underfinanced. In the current situation of economic crisis, this situation threatens to get even worse. The European Left therefore demands that all necessary steps are taken by the EU and all member states to avoid a further negative impact. The European Left regards it to be completely unacceptable if people who can in no way be blamed for the current economic crisis are to pay the price. On the contrary, we think that investments in the infrastructure of health and social services and in assistance for persons with disabilities who need special treatment are investments in society that are to the benefit of all of society.

EDF: Travelling, studying or living in another country, one of the greatest benefits for EU citizens derived from the European Union is a huge challenge for persons with disabilities or for families with a family member with a disability.

What action does the European Left Party envisage to address this?

FW:

In this regard special assistance is crucial. We demand improvement in this field, e.g accessible tourism and a European, or even international pass for severely handicapped people.

Moreover the EU has to be concerned with facilitation of travelling and tourism infrastructure for people with disabilities. This includes, for example special parking facilities, free tickets, special provisions in means of travel etc. As well, legislation for disabled people, concerning mobility and other things, have to be improved and further developed. The „European action plan (2003-2010) - Equal opportunities for people with disabilities" and the report from Marc Maudinet „Access to social rights for people with disabilities in Europe" can be noted here. The possibilities for students with disabilities to participate in exchange programs should be enhanced by means of higher grants, and special programmes dealing with the particular needs in questions.