I am delighted to be with you to speak about this important topic. As Commissioner for Equality, I would like to say very clearly: persons with disabilities must have the same rights and opportunities as everyone. No ifs, ands, or buts. I will be a tireless champion to make this happen.
I have just come back from two missions. In Ukraine and in the Middle East — Syria, Jordan, and Türkiye.
I visited refugee camps, bomb shelters, underground schools, and crisis centres. I met people with disabilities, and I saw first-hand the challenges they face every day. In peacetime, life for people with disabilities is already difficult. Just imagine the immense challenges in a country at war.
In Ukraine — a country under daily attack — accessibility is a question of life or death for persons with disabilities. Every day they ask themselves: “Can I get to a shelter when the bombs start falling?”
In the Middle East — in Jordan and Türkiye — I visited refugee camps and spoke with people in wheelchairs. Every day they ask themselves: “Can I access food and water? Can I reach the bathrooms? Can I make it to school in my wheelchair?”
These experiences moved me profoundly. I have come back to Brussels energised to do more to improve the lives of people with disabilities.
I would like to thank you for your work at the Disability Intergroup. You have played an important role in areas such as transport, employment, research, accessibility, and non-discrimination. I look forward to continuing our close cooperation.
The year ahead will be crucial. In March, the Commission is preparing for a dialogue with the UN Committee for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on the EUs implementation of the UN Convention. We are also putting into action the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030. So far, almost all the flagship initiatives and other actions have been delivered.
We are currently working on a report that will assess our progress. It will highlight key achievements and what still needs to be done. We will discuss it with relevant stakeholders, especially with organisations of persons with disabilities. We also need to reflect on the future of our EU disability policy agenda — to see what is working and what can be improved.
We have made real and important progress. But we need to do more. Allow me to focus on 5 areas:
First, making disability rights a reality. This means putting into action EU legislation, including the European Disability Card and European Parking Card, and fully implementing the European Accessibility Act and its related accessibility standards.
Second, ensuring that persons with disabilities participate fully in the economy. We must build on the Disability Employment Package and help Member States meet their targets on disability employment and the Porto agenda.
Third, improving independent living, by building on the Guidance on independent living to make sure everyone is treated fairly and with dignity.
Fourth, making our societies more inclusive for persons with disabilities, by ensuring that products, services and infrastructure are accessible.
Fifth, mainstreaming disability across all portfolios and putting into action the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The EU is a Union of inclusion. When we empower our fellow Europeans, we empower ourselves. Lets aim high — united and true to our values. Lets aim high, full of ambition, to make our Union fairer, more inclusive, and filled with possibilities for persons with disabilities.