COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT  Accompanying the  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS   European Disability Strategy 2010-2020:  A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe Initial plan to implement the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020   List of Actions 2010-2015 {COM(2010) 636 final} {SEC(2010) 1323 final}
Date: 2010-11-15
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: European social policy, action programme, disabled person, discrimination based on disability, equal treatment, fundamental rights, marginalisation, social participation

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EUROPEAN COMMISSION 

Brussels, 15.11.2010 
SEC(2010) 1324 final 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

Accompanying the 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN 
PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL 
COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS  

European Disability Strategy 2010-2020:  
A Renewed Commitment to a Barrier-Free Europe 

Initial plan to implement the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020  

List of Actions 2010-2015 

{COM(2010) 636 final} 
{SEC(2010) 1323 final} 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Implementation of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: objectives and actions ......... 3 

1.  Accessibility ......................................................................................................................... 3 

2.  Participation ......................................................................................................................... 6 

3.  Equality ................................................................................................................................ 9 

4.  Employment ....................................................................................................................... 10 

5.  Education and Training ...................................................................................................... 12 

6.  Social Protection ................................................................................................................ 13 

7.  Health ................................................................................................................................. 14 

8.  External Action .................................................................................................................. 15 

Implementation of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: general instruments ........... 17 

1.  Awareness-raising .............................................................................................................. 17 

2.  Financial Support ............................................................................................................... 18 

3.  Statistics and data collection and monitoring..................................................................... 18 

Implementation of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020: actions to comply with the 
UNCRPD obligations within EU institutions........................................................................... 20 

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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN DISABILITY STRATEGY 2010-2020: 
OBJECTIVES AND ACTIONS 

In  order  to  ensure  the  implementation  of  the  European  Disability  Strategy  2010-2020  this 
annex  presents  the  specific  objectives  identified  in  the  strategy  and  the  different  actions 
foreseen to achieve them.  

This list of actions covers the first period of implementation of the strategy, 2010-2015, and 
will be monitored and updated periodically. 

1. 

ACCESSIBILITY 

Specific objective 

Prevent, identify and eliminate obstacles and barriers to accessibility. Key areas include 
the  built  environment, 
including 
technologies and services.  

information  and  communication 

transport  and 

Key actions 

–  Launch  a  study  on  cost  benefit  analysis  and  data  collection  on 
accessibility  of  goods  and  services  in  the  areas  of  ICT,  built 
environment  and  transport  addressing  the  functioning  of  the  internal 
market,  as  preparation  for  the  possible  development  of  a  European 
Accessibility Act 

When 

2011 

–  Consult    Member  States  and  other  stakeholders  on  a  possible 

2011 

‘European Accessibility Act’  

–  Prepare a European Accessibility Act setting out a general accessibility 
framework in relation to goods and services including public services 

2012-2013 

Explore the possibility to complete the legal framework addressing rights of persons with 
reduced mobility by covering all relevant modes of transport 

–  Finalise  negotiations  in  Council  on  proposal  for  Regulations  on  the 
Rights of persons with reduced mobility travelling by road, rail and sea 

Ongoing 

–  Report on the application on the Regulations on the Rights of persons 

2010-2011 

with reduced mobility travelling by air 

–  Address problems related to compensation claims concerning damages 
of mobility equipment (wheelchairs and other Assistive devices) when 
travelling  

2010-2015 

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–  Address  accessibility  of  transport  infrastructures  through  accessibility 

Ongoing 

Mandate 420 

Address accessibility to the Built environment 

–  Continue  improving  accessibility  to  the  urban  environment  through 

2010-2015 

implementation of the Urban mobility Action plan 

–  Promote accessibility of the built environment as part of the sustainable 

Ongoing 

construction area of the "lead market initiative" 

–  Implement  Standardisation  Mandate  420  on  accessibility  to  the  built 

Ongoing 

environment  

–  Exploit  the  opportunities  provided  by  the  Galileo  system  supporting 

Ongoing 

pilot projects related to disabilities 

Make  full  use  of  all  existing  legal  instruments  and  address  disability  matters  in  their 
revisions following the UN Convention in the area of Information Society in line with the 
Digital Agenda for Europe 

–  Implement 

the  disability 

Communication  Directives  and 
Directive, considering their recent revisions 

related  provisions  of 

the  electronic 
the  Audiovisual  Media  Service 

–  Systematically  evaluate  accessibility 

legislation 
undertaken  under  the  Digital  Agenda,  e.g.  ,  eIdentity  &  eSignature, 
following the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 

in  revisions  of 

2010-2015 

2010-2015 

–  Promote  dialogue  between  users  and  industry  leading  to  voluntary 

Ongoing 

agreements in the areas of: 

–  copyright:  EU  Memorandum  of  Understanding  on  access  to 

works by people with print disabilities 

–  digital 

television: 

cooperation  between 

industry 

and 

organisations of persons with disabilities 

–   Based on a review of options, make proposals by 2011 that will make 
sure that public sector websites (and websites providing basic services 
to the public) are fully accessible by 2015; 

2011 

–  Develop  accessibility  standards  to  ICT  for  their  use  in  public 

Ongoing 

procurement in the context of Mandate 376 

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Support  research  on  new  technologies  addressing  assistive  technology  and  accessible 
mainstream solutions 

–  Mainstream  accessibility  following  Design  for  all 
mainstream standards through a standardisation Mandate 

in  relevant 

2011 

–  Support  the  inclusion  of  accessibility  and  design  for  all  in  general 
curricula  for  architects  and  engineers  to  prevent  barriers  when 
exercising their professions 

2011-2015 

–  Study  the  Assistive  technology  market  with  a  view  to  improve  its 

Ongoing 

functioning 

–  Raise  awareness  on  accessibility  through  the  establishment  of  an 

Ongoing 

European award of accessible cities 

–  Exploit  international  dialogues  in  particular  ongoing  EU-US  dialogue 
on  accessibility  standards  to  bring  coherence  to  the  markets  and  build 
economies of scale 

Ongoing 

–  Follow-up  to  a  planned  Green  paper  on  modernisation  of  EU  public 
procurement  rules  and  explore  the  possibility  of  fostering  the  use  of 
public procurement to improve accessibility by developing obligations 
for public authorities using accessibility standards 

2011-2015 

–  Explore  possible  measures  to  improve  the  accessibility  of  goods  and 

2011-2015 

services in Europe using internal market instruments 

–  Consider  relevant  disability  issues,  where  possible,  within  the  context 
of  the  follow-up  to  the  Commission  Report  "Towards  more  efficient 
and fairer retail services in the Internal Market for 2010" and within the 
context of the e-commerce activities 

2010-2015 

–  Improve  application  of  Article  16  of  the  Structural  funds  general 

2010-2015 

regulation to progress on accessibility 

–  Take  into  consideration,  in  projects  run  by  the  EU  Joint  Research 
Centre,  technical  aspects  related  to  usability  by  all,  including  people 
with disabilities  

2011-2015 

–  Support  independent  living  of  persons  with  disabilities  and  older 
persons  under  the  innovation  partnership  "Active  and  healthy  ageing" 
of the Innovation Union flagship initiative 

2011-2015 

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2. 

PARTICIPATION 

Specific objective 

Ensure  equal  opportunities  for  persons  with  disabilities  and  their  families  to  fully 
participate in all aspects of social and economic life, namely: 

–  to exercise all their Union citizenship rights, in particular the right to free movement 

and residence 

–  to be able to choose where and how they live 

–  to have full access to cultural, recreational, leisure and sports activities 

Key actions 

When 

Address  the  obstacles  that  persons  with  disabilities  face  in  exercising  their  rights  as 
individuals, consumers, students and professionals, and political actors 

–  Study  the  implications  of  a  mutual  recognition  of  disability  cards  and 

Ongoing 

related entitlements  

–  Support  Member  States'  efforts  to  ensure  that  women  and  men  with 
disabilities  can  fully  exercise  their  electoral  rights  by  developing  and 
disseminating  standards  on  accessible  election  facilities  and  campaign 
material  

2010-2015 

–  Raise  awareness  among  MS  of  the  need  to  improve  accessibility  of 

2010-2015 

courts and police buildings 

–  Promote  the  dissemination  of  good  practices  regarding  training  of 
public officials on receiving and informing persons with disabilities 

2010-2015 

–  Raise awareness among MS on the need for proper assistance regarding 

2010-2015 

access to legal documents and procedures 

–  Explore ways of facilitating the use of sign language in dealing with the 

2010-2015 

EU institutions 

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–  Monitor the proper implementation of article 82(2) of the TFEU (rights 
of  individuals  in  criminal  procedure)  relative  to  interpretation  and 
translation 
issue  of 
interpretation in sign language 

in  criminal  proceedings  on 

the  specific 

2010-2015 

–  Ensure  inclusion  of  concerns  of  person  with  disabilities  in  initiatives 
aimed to address consumer rights in Europe, in particular with regard to 
access to services of general economic interest 

2010-2015 

Address problems related to intra-EU mobility 

–  Promote  dialogue  among  Member  States  in  the  Disability  High  Level 
Group  on  the  portability  of  rights  such  as  the  right  to  personal 
assistance  

–  Encourage  the  participation  of  the  EU  Member  States  to  the  2000 
Hague  Convention  on  the  International  Protection  of  Adults  and 
evaluate  its  application,  foreseen  in  the  Stockholm  Action  Plan,  with 
the  view  to  assess  the  need  for  additional  proposals  as  regards 
vulnerable adults.  

2011 

2014 

–  Identify  obstacles  encountered  by  persons  with  disabilities  in  the 
exercise of their rights as EU citizens, in particular regarding the right 
to free movement and residence 

2010-2015 

Enhance the use of the European model of disability parking card 

–  Raise awareness of the European model of disability parking card and 
combat its abuse by producing and disseminating information material 
for national and local authorities 

Ongoing 

–  Explore  opportunities  of  new  technological  solutions,  for  example  by 
funding  pilot  projects  on  the  development  of  electronic  parking  cards 
and control systems 

2012-2015 

Enhance Member States' efforts towards the transition  from institutional  to community-
based care 

–  Develop  and  disseminate  a  quality  framework  for  community-based 
services  that  is  inclusive  of  person  with  disabilities  building  on  the 
quality framework for Social services of general interest 

Ongoing 

–  Promote  the  exchange  of  good  practices  among  Member  States  in  the 
Disability High Level Group on personal assistance funding schemes 

2011-2015 

Optimise  the  use  of  Structural  Funds  and  the  Rural  Development  Fund  to  support  the 
development of community-based services 

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–  Identify  good  practice  of  the  use  of  Structural  Funds  and  the  Rural 
Development  Fund  in  relation  with  the  principle  of  independent  and 
community living  

2010-2015 

–  Develop  a  training  module  for  European  Commission  geographical 
Desk  officers  (and  national  administrations)  dealing  with  Structural 
Funds and the Rural Development Fund on the UNCRPD and common 
basic principles on deinstitutionalisation 

2010-2015 

–  Develop  a  toolkit  for  managing  authorities  on  how  to  use  Structural 
Funds and the Rural Development Fund to support the development of 
community-based services 

2010-2015 

–  Report  on  Member  States'  compliance  with  article  16  of  Structural 

2011-2015 

funds general regulation 

Improve  the  knowledge  base  on  the  situation  of  people  with  disabilities  living  in 
residential institutions 

–  Collect  data  on  the  number,  size  and  life  conditions  of  residential 

2011-2015 

institutions 

–  Study  on  existing  legal  and  administrative  rules  which  directly  or 
indirectly promote institutionalisation with recommendations on how to 
remove them 

2012-2015 

Promote the participation of people with disabilities in sports 

–  Develop  and  disseminate  standards  for  accessibility  of  sports,  leisure, 

2010-2015 

and recreation organisations, activities, events and venues 

–  Promote the participation of people with disabilities in European sport 
events as well as the organisation of disability-specific events including 
Special Olympics 

Ongoing 

–  Include  a  priority  on  Social  inclusion  through  and  in  sport,  with  a 
particular regard to persons with disabilities, in the future Commission 
policy and incentive measures in the field of sport 

2011-2012 

Promote the access of people with disabilities to cultural materials and events 

–  Foster the cross-border transfer of copyright works in accessible format  Ongoing 

–  Ensure  accessibility  of  the  interface  and  contents  of  Europeana  –  the 

2010-2015 

European public digital library – for persons with disabilities 

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–  Ensure that accessibility criteria are taken into account in the context of 

2010-2015 

the "European Capitals of Culture" award 

3. 

EQUALITY 

Specific objective 

Promote and protect the inherent dignity of persons with disabilities, combat all forms of 
discrimination on the basis of disability, and ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy, 
on an equal basis with others, all fundamental rights and freedoms. 

Key actions 

When 

–  Support  the  negotiation  in  Council  of  the  draft  Directive  on  equal 

Ongoing 

treatment beyond the field of employment 

–  Monitoring  the  application  and  impact  of  Directive  2000/78  EC  for 

2013 

improving employment of persons with disabilities  

–  Promote  the  attention  to  disability  matters  in  equality  bodies  notably 

2010-2015 

through Equinet  

–  Provide  guidance  on  reasonable  accommodation  for  people  with 

2010-2013 

disabilities addressing employers and service providers 

–  Promote exchange of good practices on legal capacity 

2010-2013 

–  Raise  awareness  among  trade  unions  on  the  concept  of  reasonable 

2010-2013 

accommodation 

–  Use of existing Progress programme (until December 2013) to support 
national  activities  aiming  at  combating  discrimination  and  promoting 
equality. 

2010-2013 

–  Address disability issues in awareness raising seminars in the areas of 
non discrimination and equality targeted at civil society organisations 

2011-2012 

–  Address disability discrimination in annual calls for proposals aiming at 
supporting national authorities in their fight against discrimination and 
promotion of equality 

2011-2013 

–  Introduce a disability specific focus in the "What can Social Europe do 

for you" campaign  

2010-2013 

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–  Address  disability  discrimination  in  the  "For  Diversity  Against 
Discrimination  campaign",  e.g.  through  Diversity  days,  Journalist 
award, leaflet, video spot, stand at conferences 

2010-2013 

4. 

EMPLOYMENT 

Specific objective 

Improve  the  employment  situation  of  women  and  men  with  disabilities  through 
recognition of their right to work including the right to the opportunity to gain a living by 
work  freely  chosen  or  accepted  in  a  labour  market  and  work  environment  that  is  open, 
inclusive and accessible. 

Key actions 

When 

Increase  knowledge  on  employment  situation  of  people  with  disabilities,  identify 
challenges, propose remedies 

–  Use  of  2011  LFS  ad  hoc  module  on  employment  of  people  with 
disabilities to produce info materials on the labour market situation of 
people with disabilities in Europe 

2011-2012 

–  Enhance  cooperation  with  relevant  third  organisations  (e.g.  ILO, 

Ongoing 

OECD, EUROFOUND)  

–  Explore  possibility  of  stronger  focus  on  women  and  men  with 

Ongoing 

disabilities in Commission employment relevant publications 

Optimize the use of the new strategy for jobs and growth, "Europe 2020" for the benefit 
of people with disabilities 

–   Ensure 

that 

the  annual  Europe  2020  assessment  gives  due 

2010-2015 

consideration to the situation of people with disabilities  

–  Preparation  of  a  disability  specific  indicator  in  the  EMCO  indicator 

2011 

sub-group 

–  Make  use  of  the  ESF,  in  accordance  with  Guideline  7,  to  promote 
labour  market  integration  of  people  with  disabilities  and  other 
vulnerable groups. 

2010-2015 

Focus  on  what  people  can  do  and  persuade  potential  employers  with  convincing 
arguments and support to employ people with disabilities 

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–  Involve  Social  Partners  at  EU  level,  with  full  involvement  of  SME 

2010-2015 

representatives, to: 

–  Develop  models 

of 

good 

practice 

on 

reasonable 

accommodation and good quality jobs 

–  Provide  employers  and  policy  makers  with  information  on 

positive measures 

–  When  reviewing  relevant  European  employment  legislation  ensure  its 
compliance  with  the  UNCRPD  (working  conditions  and  protection, 
working time, safety etc.) 

2010-2015 

–  Encourage employers to commit to Diversity policies in the workplace, 

2010-2015 

in particular through the signing of Diversity Charters  

–  Highlight the scope for action that Member States enjoy in the area of 
promoting  employment  and  recruitment  of  persons  with  disabilities 
through  the  General  Block  Exemption  Regulation  and  the  Package  on 
Services of General Economic Interest 

2010-2015 

–  Encourage  social  entrepreneurship  with  concrete  actions  to  be  rolled 
out  in  a  "Social  Business  Initiative"  to  support  and  accompany  the 
development of socially innovative corporate projects within the single 
market 

2011-2015 

Give special attention to difficulties of young people with disabilities in transition from 
education  to  employment  and  address  intra  job  mobility  including  those  working  in 
sheltered workshops (access to and retention in employment) 

–  Involvement of Public Employment Services (PES) at EU level 

Ongoing 

–  E.g.  by  accessibility  of  actions  and  material,  dialogue  with 

temp and special agencies  

–  Specific disability oriented seminar in the PES Peer review 

–  Identify and promote effective support structures 

2010-2015 

–  Screening  of  national/Regional  measures  (e.g.  quotas,  social 
partnerships, cooperatives, supported employment, transport) 

–  Analysis  of  the  employment  effects  of  informal  and  family 

care, with particular attention to gender issues 

Address  the  issue  of  quality  of  jobs,  such  as  salaries,  working  hours  and  career 
advancement of people with disabilities 

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–  Promote  labour  market  relevant  training  to  people  with  disabilities 

Ongoing 

through calls for proposals in the Lifelong Learning Programme 

–  Foster  possibilities  for  self  employment  opportunities  for  people  with 
disabilities  in  context  of  European  Instruments  (e.g.  Microfinance 
Facility, European Social Fund) 

2010-2015 

Fight  prevailing  disability  benefit  cultures  and  help  to  integrate  persons  with  partial 
work capacity into the labour market, further develop active labour market policies and 
tackle benefit traps 

–  Examine national Active Labour Markets Policies ALMPS and publish 

Ongoing 

compendium of good practice 

5. 

EDUCATION AND TRAINING 

Specific objective 

Ensure  that  people  with  disabilities  receive  the  support  required,  within  the  general 
education  system,  to  facilitate  their  education,  and  that  effective  individualized  support 
measures are provided in environments that maximize academic and social development, 
consistent with the goal of full inclusion. 

Key actions 

When 

Increase knowledge on education levels and opportunities of people with disabilities  

–  Promote peer reviews on the different definitions at Member State level 
of inclusive education through the support of the Network of Experts on 
the Social Sciences of Education and Training (NESSE) 

2010-2015 

–  Support the work of the European Agency for Development in Special 
Needs Education to facilitate the collection, processing and transfer of 
European level and country specific information on education of people 
with disabilities 

2010- 2015 

–  Collect  data  on  access  and  participation  of  persons  with  high 

2011- 2015 

dependency needs in the education system  

–  Improve e-skills of persons with disabilities 

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Support  policy  developments  towards  the  goal  of  inclusive  and  quality  education  and 
training within the framework of the Youth on the move initiative 

–  Promote the exchange of good practice on inclusive education and life 
long  learning  for  students  and  pupils  with  disabilities  within  the 
strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training 
ET 2020 

2010-2015 

–  Raise disability matters in the context of the OMC on education, with 
due attention to the specific needs of women and men with disabilities 

2010-2015 

–  Disseminate  research,  information,  and  guidance  materials  on  the 
application of the reasonable accommodation principle in education and 
training 

2010-2015 

–  Monitor  recent  developments  regarding  national  and/or  Europe-wide 
Curricula for professionals in the built environment, transport and ICT 
on  Design  for  all  to  improve  their  knowledge,  skills  and  competences 
on  accessibility  and  encourage  the  development  of  a  European 
Curriculum  

2010-2015 

Increase the mobility of people with disabilities through enhancing their participation in 
the Lifelong Learning Programme and the Youth in Action Programme 

–  Ensure  that  relevant  calls  for  proposals  under  the  Lifelong  Learning 
include  accessibility  and  reasonable  accommodation 

programme 
criteria 

2010-2015 

–  Maintain  the  priority  given  to  young  people  with  fewer  opportunities 
(including young people with disabilities) in the implementation of the 
Youth in Action Programme  

Ongoing 

–  Promote  life  long  learning  of  people  with  disabilities  working  in  the 

2010-2015 

police or justice systems 

6. 

SOCIAL PROTECTION 

Specific objective 

Ensure  decent  living  conditions  for  people  with  disabilities  through  access  to  social 
protection  systems  and  poverty  reduction  programmes,  disability-related  assistance, 
public housing programmes, and retirement and benefits programmes 

Key actions 

When 

Optimise the use of the European Platform against Poverty and the ESF 

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–  Promote  cooperation,  peer  review  and  good  practice  exchange  on 

2010-2015 

disability issues, with due attention to gender differences  

–  Promote 

the  design  and 
programmes for persons with disabilities 

implementation  of  social 

innovation 

Ongoing 

–  Reduce social exclusion by targeted support of concrete actions through 
the ESF under the framework of the European Platform against poverty 

2010-2015 

Assess the adequacy of social protection systems with respect to people with disabilities 

–  Ensure  that  disability-specific  issues  are  covered  in  any  revisions  of 

2010- 2015 

legislation concerning pensions and benefits portability 

–  Follow up the Green Paper on pensions to take into account disability-

2010- 2015 

relevant aspects, organise exchange of good practices among MS 

–  Encourage  Member  States  to  address  in  the  SPSI  the  situation  of 
persons  with  disabilities  and  to  take  measures  to  compensate  the 
financial impact of disabilities 

2010- 2015 

7. 

HEALTH 

Specific objective 

Ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to healthcare, including prevention, 
and that quality and affordable specific health services are provided 

Key actions 

When 

Support policy developments to improve equal access to healthcare 

–  Develop  indicators  to  monitor  quality  and  accessibility  of  health  care 
services  for  women  and  men  with  disabilities  involving  the  service 
users perspective 

2010-2015 

–  Promote equal access to health care systems and raise awareness among 

2010-2015 

persons with disabilities of their rights of access 

–  Raise  disability  awareness  and  specific  knowledge  among  health 
professionals,  considering  the  specific  needs  of  female  and  male 
patients 

2010-2015 

Support  policy  developments  to  improve  quality  of  healthcare  and  rehabilitation  for 
people with disabilities 

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–  Explore  the  possibility  of  including  disability  information  in  the  e-
health  medical  records  and  ensure  their  accessibility  for  persons  with 
disabilities 

2010-2015 

–  Develop accessibility standards for medical equipment 

2010-2015 

–  Support  research  on  healthcare  provision  to  women  and  men  with 

2010-2015 

disabilities through health work programmes in FP7 and FP8 

–  Exploit  the  potential  of  new  telemedicine  services  such  as  online 
medical consultations, improved emergency, care and portable devices 
for persons with disabilities  

2010-2015 

–  Promote  modern  mental  health  services  and  long  term  care  facilities 
through the current European Pact for Mental Health and Well-being 

Ongoing 

–  Promote  training  of  health  professionals  on  disability  matters  through 

2010-2015 

the ESF 

Promote  actions  in  the  field  of  health  and  safety  at  work  to  reduce  risks  of  disability 
during working life 

–  Examine  follow  up  of  the  specific  action  taken  by  Member  States  to 
improve  the  rehabilitation  and  reintegration  of  workers  excluded  from 
the workplace for a long period of time because of an accident at work, 
an occupational illness or a disability in the mid-term review of the EU 
Strategy on Health and Safety at Work 2007-2012  

–  Report  on  the  implementation  of  the  European  social  partners' 

framework agreement on work-related stress 

Ongoing 

Ongoing 

–  Explore  the  possibility  to  address  the  needs  of  people  acquiring  a 
disability  while  working  at  sea,  particularly  in  the  context  of  the 
revision of financial instruments 

2011-2015 

–  Address  the  issue  of  prevention  of  disabilities  including  work  related 

Ongoing 

disabilities for reasons of mental disorders 

8. 

EXTERNAL ACTION 

Specific objective 

Promote  the  rights  of  people  with  disabilities  within  a  broader  non-discriminatory 
approach in the EU external action, including the enlargement process and development 
programmes,  taking  due  account  of  the  common  EU  and  Member  States'  approach  to 
development 

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Key actions 

–  Ensure  that  the  specific  needs  of  persons  with  disabilities,  including 
those  who  are  disabled  as  a  consequence  of  natural  and  man-made 
disasters, are properly assessed and addressed in the area of emergency 
and humanitarian aid outside the EU 

When 

Ongoing 

–  Highlight  disability  where  appropriate  as  a  human  rights  issue  in  the 
EU human rights dialogues with third countries, based on the principles 
of the UNCRPD 

2010-2015 

–  Ensure  that  EU  development  cooperation  reaches  persons  with 
disabilities,  both  through  projects/programmes  specifically  targeting 
persons  with  disabilities  and  by  improving  the  mainstreaming  of 
disability concerns 

Ongoing 

–  Enhance  coherence  and  complementarity  between  the  EU  approach  to 
persons  with  disabilities  and  EU  assistance  to  survivors  of  landmine 
and explosive remnants of war during armed conflict and its aftermath 

2010-2015 

–  Support  the  national  efforts  of  partner  countries  for  the  signature, 

2010-2015 

ratification and implementation of the UNCRPD 

–  Support  where  appropriate  the  institutional  strengthening  of  Disabled 
Peoples'  Organisations  in  partner  countries  and  organisations  dealing 
with disability and development 

2010-2015 

–  Consolidate  the  network  of  disability  focal  points  in  EU  Delegations 
and  at  Headquarters,  and  increase  the  awareness  of  EU  staff  on 
disability matters 

Ongoing 

–  Promote 

that 

infrastructure  financed 

the  framework  of  EU 
development  projects  meets  the  accessibility  requirements  of  people 
with disabilities. 

in 

2010-2015 

–  Update the Guidance Note on Disability and Development to be in line 

Ongoing 

with the UN Convention on the Rights of Person with Disabilities 

–  Ensure  that  progress  is  made  by  candidate  and  potential  candidate 
countries  on  promoting  the  rights  of  persons  with  disabilities  and  that 
accession funds are used to improve their situation 

2010-2015 

–  Encourage European Neighbourhood Policy partner countries to protect 
the  rights  of  persons  with  disabilities;  mainstream  disability-related 
issues through policy dialogue and exchange of experience; and explore 
possibilities for financial assistance under the European Neighbourhood 
Policy and Partnership Instrument 

2010-2015 

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IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN DISABILITY STRATEGY 2010-2020: 

GENERAL INSTRUMENTS 

The  European  Disability  Strategy  requires  a  joint  and  renewed  commitment  of  the  EU 
institutions  and  all  Member  States  to  create  a  barrier  free  Europe.  The  actions  in  the  main 
areas above need to be underpinned by the following general instruments. 

1. 

AWARENESS-RAISING 

Specific objective 

Raise  awareness  throughout  society  of  the  rights  of  people  with  disabilities,  promoting 
recognition of skills, merits and abilities and combating prejudices and discrimination 

Key actions 

When 

Ensure that people with disabilities are aware of their rights and of the EU activities to 
guarantee these rights, while paying particular attention to accessibility of materials and 
information channels 

–  Support  awareness-raising  activities  (including  in  the  media)  to 
highlight  the  capabilities  and  contributions  of  women  and  men  with 
disabilities 

Ongoing 

–  Raise  awareness  of  the  relationship  between  ageing  and  disability 

2012 

within the European Year 2012 for Active Ageing 

–  Annual  policy  conference  on  the  occasion  of  the  European  day  of 

Ongoing 

persons with disabilities 

Promote awareness raising on design for all and universal design 

–  Organise an annual EU Accessible Cities award 

2010-2015 

–  Promote knowledge of innovation in assistive technology 

Ongoing 

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2. 

FINANCIAL SUPPORT 

Specific objective 

Optimise  use  of  EU  funding  instruments  for  accessibility  and  non-discrimination  and 
increase  visibility  of  disability-relevant  funding  possibilities  in  post-2013  programmes 
while respecting European competition legislation, in particular State aid rules. 

Key actions 

–  Promote that EU programmes in  policy areas relevant for people with 
disabilities  will  contain  thematic  funding  opportunities  (e.g.  ESF, 
PROGRESS, LLP, FP7, Youth) 

When 

2011-2013 

–  Support  research  projects  in  the  areas  of  environment,  information 

2011-2013 

society, transport and security under the FP7 

–  Promote the design and application of European co-funding instruments 
under  shared  management,  in  particular  the  Structural  Funds  (and  the 
Microfinance facility), in an accessible and non-discriminatory way 

2010-2015 

–  Prepare  for  input  of  new  ESF  design  from  2014  onwards  gathering 
information  on  the  future  of  the  ESF  and  its  use  for  people  with 
disabilities 

2010-2013 

–  Prepare  for  input  of  new  ERDF  design  from  2014  onwards  gathering 
information  on  the  future  of  the  ERDF  and  its  use  for  people  with 
disabilities 

2010-2013 

–  Update  of  toolkit  on  non-discrimination  and  accessibility  in  the 

2011-2015 

structural funds 

–  Financial  support  for  EU  level  NGOs  of  and  for  persons  with 

Ongoing 

disabilities  

3. 

STATISTICS AND DATA COLLECTION AND MONITORING 

Specific objective 

Supplement  the  collection  of  periodical  disability-related  statistics  with  a  view  to 
monitoring  the  situation  of  persons  with  disabilities  (EU-SILC,  LFS  AHM,  EHIS  and 
EDSIM) 

Key actions 

When 

–  Monitor the situation on disabled persons on the labour market through 
the 2011 LFS AHM on employment of persons with disabilities with an 
option to repeat the module after five years 

2011-2012 

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–  Develop and implement a specific EU wide survey on health and social 
integration  based  on  a  revised  European  Disability  and  Social 
Integration  Module  EDSIM  with  an  option  to  repeat  the  module  after 
five years 

–  Collate  complementary 

limitations  and 
activities  of  daily  living  through  European  Health  Interview  Surveys 
EHIS on a five-years basis, starting in 2014 

information  on  activity 

2012-2013 

2014 

–  Work with the Washington City Group and the Budapest Initiative for a 

Ongoing 

common approach of disability statistics at international level  

–  Work  towards  a  legal  basis  for  a  health  and  social  integration  survey 
implementing Regulation (EC) 1338/2008 on public health statistics 

2013-2015 

–  Make  use  of  the  independent  academic  disability  expert  network  to 
collect  data  on  the  situation  of  persons  with  disabilities  in  Member 
States and analyse relevant related policy and legislation. 

Ongoing 

Monitor the role of disability in key Europe 2020 targets 

–  On the basis of statistics and data collection, establish disability-related 
indicators linked to the Europe 2020 targets for education, employment 
and poverty reduction:  

(1) 

(2) 

(3) 

Employment  (%  of  persons  with  disabilities  in  the  open  labour 
market),  linked  to  the  target  to  raise  the  employment  rate  for 
women and men aged 20-64 to 75% 

Poverty (% of persons with disabilities at risk of poverty), linked to 
the target to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty 
and exclusion  

Education (% of persons with disabilities having completed tertiary 
education), linked to the target to raise the share of 30-34 years old 
having completed tertiary education to at least 40% 

2013 

Promote independent monitoring of the implementation of the UNCRPD 

–  Make  a  proposal  to  establish  a  framework,  including  one  or  more 
independent  mechanisms,  with  the  aim  of  promoting,  protecting  and 
monitoring the implementation of the UNCRPD 

2011 

Foster the effective implementation of the UNCRPD in Europe 

–  Regularly  organise  a  work  forum  with  the  national  and  European 

2010-2015 

implementation and monitoring mechanisms under the UNCRPD 

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–  Organise  training  for  legal  and  policy  practitioners  on  legal  matters 

2011-2012 

related to the UNCRPD 

Monitor the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 

–  Preparatory  work  for  the  report  to  the  Committee  on  the  Rights  of 
persons  with  Disabilities  on  the  implementation  of  the  UNCRPD  in 
Europe  

2010-2015 

–  Report  on  the  implementation  of  the  European  Disability  Strategy 

2013 

2010-2020 actions and propose an update 

–  Publish and regularly update an on line table with key national and EU 

2010-2015 

instruments for the implementation of the UNCRPD 

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN DISABILITY STRATEGY 2010-2020: 
ACTIONS TO COMPLY WITH THE UNCRPD OBLIGATIONS WITHIN EU 
INSTITUTIONS 

The UN Convention is binding in its entirety on the EU institutions. Together with the other 
institutions,  the  Commission  will  screen  the  Convention  to  identify  action  needed  within 
them,  including  recruitment  of  people  with  disabilities  to  the  EU  institutions  and  more 
accessible buildings, websites, ICT tools and documents. 

Specific objective 

Screen  the  UN  Convention  to  identify  action  needed  within  EU  institutions  to  comply 
with its obligations 

Key actions 

When 

–  Address employment matters of women and men with disabilities in the 

2010-2015 

EU institutions  

–  Ensure  that  in  the  EU  Institutions'  recruitment  process  people  with 
disabilities compete on an equal footing with non-disabled candidates, 
by  improving  the  accessibility  of  test  centres,  IT  tools  and  selection 
procedures and granting reasonable accommodation 

Ongoing 

–  Improve  accessibility  of  buildings,  websites,  events,  ICT  tools, 

2010-2015 

applications and documents 

–  Create an inter-institutional group to coordinate the implementation of 

Ongoing 

the UN Convention 

EN 

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