Yannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), gives an opening statement ahead of the event "Building an inclusive future for persons with disabilities in the EU". This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Brussels

European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities (T)

statement

fight against discrimination on the basis of disability (T)

VARDAKASTANIS, Ioannis (EL)

European Parliament of persons with disabilities - "Building an inclusive future for persons with disabilities in the EU": statement by Yannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF)

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Dear of President the European Parliament,dear members of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Commission, national governments and international and European partner organisations. Dear colleagues and friends, on behalf of the European Disability Forum, we warmly welcome you all to the fifth European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), First of all, I would like once again to express our deepest gratitude to the European Parliament and its President for supporting us to co-organise this very crucial event for the European disability movement. I would like also to wholeheartedly thank all EDF members and members of the European Parliament for making this European Parliament of Persons with disabilities a reality.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), And, a historic addition, because this is, the fifth European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities has the highest number of participants, 734.Colleagues, here we are again. As I said, all the 734 disability activists from all corners of Europe and through representation of the diversity of the 100 million of persons with disabilities in our European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Being together in this House, in our house, filling the hemicycle of the European Parliament, proving not only the strength of the European disability movement, but also our commitment and determination in our fight to build a more inclusive future for all persons with disabilities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Last time we met here in 2017, none of us knew how much the world would change in just six years. Europe has gone through and is still facing dramatic crises one after the other. Its crisis impacts us more heavily and more disproportionately. The COVID 19 pandemic was a stark reminder of how far we are in enjoying the same rights and the same protection as any other citizen.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Then the worst nightmare of our continent returns, another war in Europe. Russia invaded Ukraine and as in every armed conflict, persons with disabilities face higher risks of abandonment, abuse and neglect. Our hearths, our efforts are with you all. Dear friends and colleagues, Ukrainians with disabilities is also welcome here today.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), The war also caused a spiral of rising prices, which have made it more difficult for millions of persons with disabilities to make ends meet and have a decent standard of living. Additionally, the effects of the climate change and the rapid digital transition are also imposing new challenges to the everyday lives of persons with disabilities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Colleagues, in all these fronts, we need a strong European Union that truly embraces diversity and puts equally and inclusion and at the very centre of its policies. We need to turn the words of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons who Disability a reality. The European Disability Movement was very instrumental in to include disability in 1987 is the Amsterdam Treaty.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), At the last European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities we jointly called the EU to adopt a European Disability Strategy for the President that day, with the CRPD as its compass. We urge the adoption of the first comprehensive European accessibility legislation, the 2019 European accessibility the Act.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), And as President Metsola said, we also urge, once again for our long standing demand for a true European disability card, for a mutual recognition of disability in all member states. Recently, EU institutions held their conference on the future of Europe, in which they asked EU citizens for their opinion. Today, dear colleagues, is our opportunity to say the future we want.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), A future in Europe in which no one is deprived of their right to vote or to stand as a candidate in elections. Where elections are accessible and there are more persons with disability as policy makers, where we are protected against discrimination in all areas of life and where we can participate on equal footing with others.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Where, we men with disabilities, can thrive and equally live in our societies, where no one ever faces violence or inhumane practices, like forced treatment or forced sterilisation, where accessibility is considered as a fundamental element of our societies. Where persons with disabilities can live independently in a community. Where we can move freely across the EU with accessible transfer and equal parts of the sites.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Where we can access inclusive education, equality employment in the open labour market. Where we can all enjoy a good standard of living. Where also our governments promote the rights of persons with disabilities in our countries and across the world. And where we are meaningfully involved in the decisions affecting our lives.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Colleagues, I call you all to be ambitious activists proposing measures to achieve this inclusive future. We must speak up. We must stand up, all for those who could not be with us today. Persons living in segregating institutions or persons with disabilities facing extreme socioeconomic difficulties. We are here for them as well.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Women and men with disabilities, their families, persons with chronic diseases and rare diseases, persons with invisible disabilities, older people, younger people with disabilities. We are all here to celebrate diversity to send a message from the House of democracy of the European Union. That people with in the European disabilities Union never more tolerate discrimination.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS, President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), I am sure that you are going to work here all day, all together, to present a series of policy measures that would make the European Union a very inclusive continent to live. I would like to thank you all for your presence and active participation. Thank you and welcome.