Prior to the plenary vote on 25 October on the EP report ‘Mobility and inclusion of people with disabilities and the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020’ (rapporteur Ádám Kósa MEP (EEP/HU)), AGE successfully lobbied EPP MEPs and the Intergroup on Ageing and Intergenerational Solidarity for their support against an amendment tabled by the EPP to attempt to water down the clear call for the draft horizontal directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment in paragraph 53 which was based on a hard won compromise between all political groups.
AGE reminded MEPs that the adoption of the EPP proposed amendment would prove counterproductive. It would have negative consequences not only for citizens' confidence in the EU project but in particular for their confidence in EP support to implementing the principle of equal treatment between all persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation. AGE recalled that it is essential that the EP seeks to do justice for all its citizens by reinforcing its call on the Commission to continue to support the overcoming of technical difficulties within the Council in order to ensure that an agreement is soon reached on the draft horizontal directive.
AGE is therefore happy that this EPP proposal fell and that the adopted item reads as:
53. Notes that the Member States should, as a priority, agree and adopt as soon as possible the proposal for a Council directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation (COM(2008)0426); calls on the Commission to continue to support the overcoming of technical difficulties within the Council in order to ensure that a swift agreement is reached; notes that anti-discrimination policy plays a key role in promoting social inclusion and employment for people with disabilities.
This was approved with 362 votes in favour, 273 against and 23 abstentions.
EP Report: Mobility and inclusion of people with disabilities and the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/file.jsp?id=5884332
For further details, please contact Rachel Buchanan, Policy Officer for Non-Discrimination and Employment, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Last Updated on Tuesday, 01 November 2011 09:05
