The official signing of the Lisbon treaty leads the way to a more social Europe. Social rights have been codified at a very prominent place. The development from an originally economic union towards a value based community is on the way.

The accomplishment of the internal market must be flanked with fundamental social rights. These include the right of the citizens to a worthy work, the emphasis on the sustainability of the social market economy or the need for a protection of the environment and resources. Observers already speak of this development as a humanisation of the community contracts.

The Austrian Franz Eckert, a member of the Law Commission at the Commission of the Bishops' Conferences of the European Community for 15 years, does not believe that the implementation of the Charter of Fundamental Rights could be delayed:

"What makes the European Union unique is the central position of humanity. There is no other continent besides Europe, where humanity is at the focus of all developments."

The German Federal Association of workshops for adapted work (BAG WfbM) highly welcomes this development. BAG WfbM fully supports a policy that centres on the individual and, to be more precise, on the right for every individual, every person with or without disabilities to a worthy work life. The integration into the general labour market should be promoted where it best fits the needs of a person with a disability. Assistance should be assured to maintain the right to a more self-determined life. Adapted work settings should be arranged for those who currently have no opportunity to equally participate in work life.

The BAG WfbM believes that all inclusion options are of equal value and that it is possible to move between them so that every individual can choose the circumstances best suited for them without disadvantage. Inclusion into general working life must be afforded no higher social value than other forms of inclusion in working life. The BAG WfbM and its members believe that special forms of inclusion in working life must also be considered to be of equal value. People who need these special offers of inclusion must not be disadvantaged nor discriminated.

In the upcoming new year, BAG WfbM will continue to promote a better social policy that is better adapted to the individual’s needs.