It remains unclear how the European Commission will follow up on the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020. During a debate in Strasbourg on Tuesday 17 December, the new Equality Commissioner, Helena Dalli, refused to make any commitments to MEPs on the renewal of an exercise like this.
In her introductory speech, Ms Dalli suggested that the renewal of the European Disability Strategy was not yet complete. She indicated that the European Commission is currently carrying out an evaluation of the current strategy. "Proposing a new strategy for the next decades is certainly an option when evaluating the current one and considering the next steps", she said. But "the precise follow up will be defined and agreed once this evaluation is finalised by mid 2020", she concluded.
This exchange of views followed a topical question from the EPP Group highlighting the fact that 100 to 120 million people currently have a disability in the EU and that this number is likely to increase in view of current demographic trends. It should have been followed by the adoption of a resolution, but this was postponed to a later plenary session. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)