FIMITIC

29 January 2010 /// On 27 January 2009, the renewed Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament and the European Disability Forum toasted the New Year in Brussels at a very well-attended event. The new President of the Intergroup - for the first time a person with a disability himself, - and the disability movement presented the Disability Pact to a hundred of activists and 20 MEPs from various political groups and nationalities.

“The historic day for persons with disabilities”

18 January 2010 /// Last Friday, Emil Boc, Prime Minister of Romania received the European Disability Forum to exchange views on how to reinforce the participation of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in the decision-making process at the national level.

Europe celebrates the Day of Persons with Disabilities – Creating conditions for independent living.

To mark the European Day of People with Disabilities, the European Commission organized in cooperation with EDF a conference in Brussels on 3 and 4 December. Representatives from the disability movement and decision-makers focused on "Creating conditions for independent living". The Conference's goal was to contribute to a better understanding of issues related to independent living, in particular economic autonomy, community services and assistive technologies.

On the 3 December, the symbolic date for persons with disabilities, the EU regulation on the rights of rail passengers entered into application. This regulation includes a chapter on the specific rights of persons with reduced mobility, thus guaranteeing important rights such as the right to transport, the right assistance by trained personnel, information in accessible formats and full compensation in the event of damaged mobility equipment.

 In the light of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the European Disability Forum (EDF) joins the struggle against all forms of gender violence, to which thousands of women in the European Union and worldwide fall victim. All forms of sterilization without full and informed consent must be seen as violence.

Stockholm, October 19, 2009. The European Disability Forum, the voice of 65 million European citizens with disabilities, met in the Swedish capital to adopt the proposal for the European Disability Pact. “This policy instrument ensures real mainstreaming of disability in the European Union by promoting the rights of persons with disabilities and by developing a strong agenda engaging both the EU institutions and Member States” announced Yannis Vardakastanis, President of the organisation.

The manifesto calls on politicians to address disability and to assure equal access for disabled voters

Brussels, 3 December 2008 – European Disability Forum (EDF) made public its 2009 European Election Manifesto “Nothing about Disabled People, Without Disabled People” today, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

During the recent EDF Board meeting in the frame of the French EU-Presidency in Paris, France, the following Statement on Economic Crisis and Disabled People was launched:

The new EU regulation enabling disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility to enjoy equal opportunities to travel by plane entered into force on 26 July 2008.

The new rules that will give disabled persons and elderly persons access to air transport comparable to that enjoyed by all other passengers flying to or from, or passing in transit though, airports in the European Union, with no discrimination and at no additional cost.

EDF has fought several years for this much needed legislation, and contributed to its preparation, adoption, and implementation.