European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Around 80 million people in the EU are affected by a disability in some degree. Accessibility is a precondition to ensure their full and equal participation in society. Persons with disabilities still face difficulties accessing mainstream goods and services, under the same conditions as any other EU citizen and they do not have the same opportunities as persons without disabilities. The European Accessibility Act aims to improving the functioning of the internal market through achieving common accessibility requirements across the EU covering goods and services and removing the barriers faced by people with disabilities when studying, looking for a job, travelling, purchasing goods and services or simply accessing information in another EU Member State. The purpose of this conference is to have practical demonstrations of the difficulties faced by disabled people when accessing products and services, and to discuss concrete proposals for our work in IMCO regarding the draft directive. 

PROGRAMME

 

15.00  Opening speech

MEP Igor Šoltes, the Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur on European Accessibility Act

MEP Indrek Tarand, the Greens/EFA - Vice President of the Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament

 

15.15 Presentation of practical problems faced 1 (stakeholder(s) - blind/partially sighted?)

Mr Wolfgang Angermann, President of European Blind Union

15.40 Discussion

 

16. 15 Presentation of practical problems faced 2 (stakeholder(s) - other disability, physically handicapped?)

Mr Frank Sioen, European Network on Independent Living

16.40 Discussion

 

17.15     Panel - how to improve the EAA proposal

Moderated by MEP Davor Škrlec, the Greens/EFA TRAN Rapporteur on the EAA

Mrs Inmaculada Placencia Porrero, Deputy Head of Unit, for Rights of Persons with Disabilities within the Directorate General for Justice – DG Justice, European Commission

Mr Dan Pescod, RNIB

Mr Luc Zelderloo, Secretary General EASPD

MEP Helga Stevens, ECR, Rapporteur on implementation of UNCRPD

18.00     Sum up

 

18.15 Closing statements

MEP Indrek Tarand, the Greens/EFA - Vice President of the Disability Intergroup of the  European Parliament

MEP Igor Šoltes, the Greens/EFA shadow rapporteur

18h30    End