We conclude our series of interviews with Members of the European Parliament during the mandate 2019-2024 by interviewing none other than the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.
During this interview, President Metsola shares what have been the main achievements of the mandate in disability rights, the cooperation with the disability movement and the Parliament’s commitment to become more accessible for Members, staff and citizens with disabilities.
Read the interview below.
Main achievements on disability rights
Question: Which have been the main achievements of this mandate regarding disability rights?
Answer: The biggest achievement of this mandate was undoubtedly the agreement on the EU Disability Card and the European Parking Card. This is an important step in promoting accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities across the European Union. The Card will facilitate the recognition of disability status in all EU Member States, giving holders easier access to a range of services, facilities and benefits.
I would also want to highlight the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities which convened 730 disability advocates – a joint effort between the President and The European Disability Forum. This was a real show of force in our efforts to develop more inclusive policies. And let me also use this occasion to say that Parliament will of course also be available to host its 6th edition, as our commitment to removing barriers will not stop here.
Furthermore, we also need to ensure that the EU remains ambitious on the flagship initiatives of the Disability Strategy 2021-2030. And then start thinking of what further steps we can take.
Initiatives by the Parliament
Question: What initiatives has the Parliament taken and still needs to take to live up to the rights of persons with disabilities?
Answer: As President of the Parliament, I have made it a priority to make sure our institution is ready to offer an accessible environment to individuals with disabilities – be they Members, staff or citizens. To that end, we consider the matter of accessibility in all its components and have further mainstreamed accessibility into all areas of Parliament’s activities, by removing as much barriers as possible, promoting an inclusive environment and allowing the participation of persons with disability in every aspects of the life of our Institution.
Of course, I would like it to go faster and progress seems sometimes too slow. However, the Parliament’s administration has continued to roll out our 2022-2024 roadmap on Diversity. We have made some improvements when it comes to sign language and when it comes to easy reading, and we have appointed a disability rights coordinator who takes part in the work of our governing bodies.
Even if not all parts of the European Parliament are yet fully accessible, we have invested more than 18 million euros over the past five years to achieve this aim, and this will continue. Our new policy on physical accessibility enshrines inclusivity into our built environment so that any new projects comply with the highest standards in terms of accessibility.
Inclusive Elections
Question: What can the Parliament, candidates and political parties do to make the elections more inclusive for persons with disabilities?
Answer: Around 87 million people in the EU have some form of disability. Any directly elected parliament is a representation of its people. Political parties should ensure that persons with disabilities are proportionally represented on these lists. So that citizens have an inclusive choice when they go to the polls between 6 and 9 June . And I would particularly like to encourage any person with disabilities to stand in elections and call on all future members to make disability rights heard.
In the next legislature, the European Parliament can and will continue to actively engage with disability organisations, such as the European Disability Forum, to address specific needs and concerns.