Nearly a third of people with a disability are “at risk” of poverty or social exclusion, according to a new EU-focussed progress report.
This is one of the main findings of a progress report into the European Commission’s “European Disability Strategy 2010-2020.”
The report, published on Thursday, said there has been progress across all areas of the strategy, including accessibility, participation, equality and employment.
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But despite some achievements, the commission report says that “challenges remain”.
It goes on, “As the EU population is getting older, the number of Europeans with disabilities is rising significantly, and their employment rate remains much lower than the one of people without disabilities (48.7 per cent vs 72.5 per cent).”
In addition, 30 per cent of people with a disability are at risk of poverty or social exclusion in the EU, compared to 21.5 per cent of people without disabilities, says the report.
Speaking at the launch of the report in Brussels, EU commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, Marianne Thyssen, said, "Today's progress report shows that objectives of the 10-year strategy remain fully relevant.”
She added, “By 2020, approximately 120 million Europeans will have a disability. EU action has made a significant difference over the past years, but we cannot succeed without the help of member states.
“We need to continue efforts at all levels in toppling down the barriers preventing people with disabilities from fully participating in our labour markets and society. The upcoming adoption of a European Pillar of Social Rights will further underpin our efforts towards a more social and inclusive Europe for all."
She said one of the success stories of the strategy had been the “EU Disability Card” project which has been piloted in eight member states.
Launched nearly a year ago, the card seeks to provide an equal access to certain specific benefits, mainly in the areas of culture, leisure, sport and transport.
The card is supposed to be mutually recognised between EU countries participating in the system, on a voluntary basis.
Other initiatives such as the Directive on Web Accessibility, which will make public websites accessible to everyone, and the proposal for a European Accessibility Act, are “big steps” towards better accessibility, said Thyssen.
The report comes after facilities in the European Parliament for people with disabilities were this week branded “woefully inadequate”.
The criticism came after disabled people experienced “major” problems accessing the parliament for a public event.