High Level Meeting on Disability

On the 23rd of October EUD participated at the High Level Meeting on Disability organised by the European Commission. During the meeting representatives from the European Commission, the EU Member States and the European organisations advocating for rights of persons with disabilities gathered to discuss the latest developments in the area of disability on the European level.

As Finnish Presidency at the Council of the European Union is now coming to an end, representatives from Croatia presented their priorities as Croatia is the next country to take over the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2020. Among others, it was highlighted that Croatian Presidency will focus on continuing discussions on the adoption of the Equal Treatment Directive, which is of a high importance for persons with disabilities.

Representatives from the European Commission provided with an overview of the latest developments on the recently adopted European Accessibility Act (EAA). It was emphasized that the transposition of the EAA has already started and the European Commission is working closely with the Member States during the period of implementation and transposition as timely transposition is of a high importance. Moreover, representatives from the European Commission, DG Connect, presented that at the moment they are conducting conformity checks on the transposition of the Web Accessibility Directive, as the deadline for transposition expired last year in September.

The European Commission also highlighted that it is currently evaluating the European Disability Strategy 2010 – 2020 and the findings will be presented during the European Day of Persons with Disabilities. 

The meeting was also an excellent opportunity to meet government representatives and discuss country specific issues. The next High Level Meeting on Disability which will take place in the first half of 2020.

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