FIMITIC

The Hungarian Presidency focuses on the creation of a citizen-friendly European Union; it also advocates EU citizens’ actual “access” to their fundamental rights laid down in the Charter of Fundamental Rights. To achieve this, every member state and its institutions should respect the Charter and promote its enforcement. This has also been a legal obligation of member states and EU institutions since the Lisbon Treaty came into force.

After more than two years of difficult and lengthy negotiations, the regulation on the rights of bus passengers was finally adopted by the European Parliament on the 15^th of February. The same text was endorsed by the Council two weeks earlier.

The ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) by Romania on 31 January 2011 has increased the number of the States Parties to the CRPD to 98 while the Optional Protocol has 60 ratifications. The number of signatures of the Convention is 147 while the Optional Protocol has 90 signatures.

15 February 2011 - The EU wants to reduce early school leaving, as indicated in Europe 2020, the EU growth strategy for the next decade. Persons with disabilities represent 15% of the population of Member States: a focus on inclusive education and special needs would reduce school dropout rates. Nevertheless, the European Commission adopted the communication: “Tackling early school leaving” at the end of January and didn’t recommend anything about persons with disabilities. 

17 January 2011 - Shortly before the entry into force of the UN Convention on 22 January, Commission Vice-President Viviane Reding addressed the Disability Intergroup at the European Parliament along with EDF President Yannis Vardakastanis and President of the Intergroup Adam Kósa. The ongoing work of the disability movement was reinforced by Ms Reding’s commitments and the European Disability Forum will continue to work hard to ensure that the European institutions will now deliver.

Wishing You a Merry Christmas

and a

Prosperous New Year 2011!

We hope that the coming year will bring us strength and persistence to achieve our aims together!

The FIMITIC Executive Board and the Administration

3 December 2010 - The Spanish city of Avila was chosen by a jury panel, in cooperation with the Disability Movement, as Europe’s most accessible city yesterday. The ceremony took place at the European Day of People with Disabilities. It is necessary that urban society includes persons with disabilities.

Every academic year, the Google Europe Scholarship for Students with Disabilities offers a 7000-euro scholarship to several European students with disabilities.

Who? Candidates must be:

The Hungarian Presidency will start in January 2011, and its priorities were already announced at a Briefing organised by the European Policy Center (a think tank) last Friday with the Permanent Representative to the EU, Mr Péter Györkös.

As a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the EU has confirmed its commitment to take a strategic stand on disability, based on a vision which covers human rights, inclusion and empowerment of persons with disabilities. This vision recognizes that an equal society is an inclusive society, where reasons for exclusion are examined and addressed. It is also one which recognizes that disability is part of the human condition in every society.