At the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (‘EPSCO’) on 17 October (see EUROPE 13733/1), the European ministers adopted conclusions on independent living and the inclusion of people with disabilities, halfway through the EU’s 2021-2030 strategy. The Danish Minister for Social Affairs and Housing, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, who chaired the session, gave us details of her priorities and the next steps to guarantee the fundamental rights of the more than 100 million citizens concerned (interview by Nithya Paquiry).
One in four adults in the EU has a disability (https://aeur.eu/f/j2a ), but their fundamental rights are still hampered in many aspects of daily life. Why is progress still so slow despite the 2006 UN Convention, the EU 2021-2030 strategy and repeated national commitments?
Sophie Hæstorp Andersen: All too often, people with disabilities find their fundamental rights restricted in everyday life. But independent living is not just a concept, it's a right. We are halfway through the EU strategy, and now is the time to act.
Is it mainly a question of resources, political will or the way our societies still perceive disability?
It's always a question of investment. Moving from institutionalisation to independence requires affordable housing. This is closely linked to the broader EU debate on housing [in her State of the Union address in September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that affordable housing would be a priority for her second term. Ed.].
Of course, each country must act at national level, but I also believe that the EU is exploring new ways to support. There is no magic solution, but we must continue to move forward.
One in five people with disabilities lives below the poverty line [according to Eurostat in 2023. Ed.]. How can the EU break this vicious circle of exclusion?
By creating jobs in every region of the EU, not just in the cities. When people move to the cities, they are faced with ever-increasing living costs.
Across Europe, we are facing a labour shortage.
This is a golden opportunity: if people with disabilities have better access to independent living, education and employment, they can become fully integrated into our societies. This would be beneficial not only for them, but also for Europe as a whole, as it would help us to find solutions to the labour shortage.
In Denmark, we are working on an action plan with organisations for people with disabilities to ensure continued support and that these people can enter the labour market. Many of them are willing and able to work. We must give them the opportunity to do so.
There seems to be a consensus on disability policy. One example is the negotiations on the European Disability Card, which were less controversial than other debates on fundamental rights. But doesn't this consensus sometimes create a false sense of security and slow down progress?
I agree that it is difficult to keep disability at the top of the political agenda. Even when we talk about inclusion and fighting discrimination, other issues - security, Ukraine, foreign policy, crime - often take centre stage.
This is why the Danish Presidency insisted on placing this issue at the centre of today’s agenda.
Civil society organisations complain about the lack of representation of people with disabilities and, in some cases, limited access to information about their rights. How can we strengthen their participation in decision-making?
One of the main answers is mainstreaming. Whenever we develop policies - in the areas of transport, education, employment, housing - we must systematically include accessibility. Of course, raising awareness of rights is essential.
But the real change comes when all policy-makers, at national and European level, mainstream disability from the outset.
According to the European Disability Forum, nearly 30% of women with disabilities in the EU face multiple forms of discrimination and violence. How can this intersectional dimension be better reflected in EU policies?
We have paid particular attention to women and girls with disabilities in our conclusions. They are more vulnerable to violence and sexual assault. We also know that women are often the informal carers of their relatives with disabilities, which represents a double burden that must be addressed.
It is not an easy task, but we must reduce inequalities and ensure equal opportunities.