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Disability Pact – Integral Part of Europe 2020
Disability Pact – Integral Part of Europe 2020
The European Commission presented its new economic and social strategy Europe 2020 in March. It aims to end the economic crisis and to prepare the European economy for the challenges of the next decade. The strategy contains three key elements and seven initiatives that are to be realised in the member states of the European Union:
The progress of Europe 2020 will be measured against five representative headline EU-level targets, which the member states will be asked to translate into national targets: 75% of the population aged 20-64 should be employed; 3% of the EU’s GDP should be invested in Research and Development; less than 10% should be leaving school early; at least 40% of the younger generation should have a degree or diploma; 20 million less people should be at risk of living in poverty and the “20/20/20” climate/energy targets should be met (a 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions below the figures of 1990; 20% of EU energy consumption is to come from renewable resources; a 20% reduction in primary energy use, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency).
The new strategy was part of the agenda of the European Council meeting on 25th and 26th March 2010. Two days before this meeting, the Disability Intergroup and the European Disability Forum organized an event in the European Parliament in Brussels. Among the guests was László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, as well as representatives of the current Spanish and the future Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They were asked to integrate the Disability Pact into the new developed economic and social strategy for Europe. The Disability Pact wants to make sure that disability issues are integrated within all relevant European Union’s policies. The whole document can be found at www.disabilitypact.eu
- Intelligent growth (advancement of innovation, education and the digital society);
- Lasting growth (the development of more efficient production processes, while increasing the competitiveness) and
- Integrative growth (an increase of employment and qualification as well as fighting poverty).
The progress of Europe 2020 will be measured against five representative headline EU-level targets, which the member states will be asked to translate into national targets: 75% of the population aged 20-64 should be employed; 3% of the EU’s GDP should be invested in Research and Development; less than 10% should be leaving school early; at least 40% of the younger generation should have a degree or diploma; 20 million less people should be at risk of living in poverty and the “20/20/20” climate/energy targets should be met (a 20% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions below the figures of 1990; 20% of EU energy consumption is to come from renewable resources; a 20% reduction in primary energy use, to be achieved by improving energy efficiency).
The new strategy was part of the agenda of the European Council meeting on 25th and 26th March 2010. Two days before this meeting, the Disability Intergroup and the European Disability Forum organized an event in the European Parliament in Brussels. Among the guests was László Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, as well as representatives of the current Spanish and the future Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union. They were asked to integrate the Disability Pact into the new developed economic and social strategy for Europe. The Disability Pact wants to make sure that disability issues are integrated within all relevant European Union’s policies. The whole document can be found at www.disabilitypact.eu
