While it acknowledges that “disability is not one of the top priorities” of the new Slovenian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the European Disability Forum (EDF) nevertheless sees in the programme led by Ljubljana in the second half of 2021 (see EUROPE 12756/1) “some interesting initiatives for the disability movement in the EU”.
In a statement issued on Tuesday 24 August, EDF - the organisation representing the interests of people with disabilities at EU level - hopes that the issue of disability will be taken into account in the discussions on the creation of the future Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) (see EUROPE 12760/5). The same applies to projects related to the fight against climate change and the digital transition.
Furthermore, the organisation assures that it will give “particular attention” to priorities concerning demographic challenges (see EUROPE 12645/3). In particular, it has high expectations of the initiatives on “the implementation of the Pillar of Social Rights, inclusive employment, and the implementation of the Child Guarantee”.
Slovenia will host a conference on disability at the end of November, where the proposed European Disability Card (see EUROPE 12670/4) will be discussed.
“We have asked the Slovenian Presidency to adopt EU Council conclusions on the disability card”, says the organisation. “But we have not received a reply yet”. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)