EP President, Roberta METSOLA gives the opening address at the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities “Building an inclusive future for persons with disabilities in the EU”. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

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European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities (T)

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METSOLA, Roberta (EPP, MT, EP President)

fight against discrimination on the basis of disability (T)

president's agenda

European Parliament of persons with disabilities - "Building an inclusive future for persons with disabilities in the EU": opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

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SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Thank you very much. Thank you, dear Yannis. Good morning, dear participants, Commissioner, members of the European Parliament, colleagues and I still have you here. I am very proud to open this 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities here in this hemicycle.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Yannis recalled our first meeting in my newly elected capacity as President. I could think of nothing better than to open this hemicycle to all of you activists from all over Europe and beyond, to be here together, to discuss the challenges and the vision that we all have and we can commit to together.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, So, this European Parliament is a place of inclusion of all in European society. You are all most welcome here. I would like to extend a particular warm welcome to the Ukrainian delegation here with us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, The challenges that you have overcome to be amongst us are second to none. And I must also say that we support your inclusion in Europe all the way. For most, accessibility is a given. But this 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities reminds Europe and the world that for many, accessibility is still the exception rather than the norm.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, One in five Europeans lives with a disability, and this is why platforms like the European Disability Forum are crucial to raise awareness of the issues that we in Europe still need to work on for more fairness, many struggle for access and inclusion. Too many must go to great lengths for equal rights.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, The European Union's motto, United in Diversity, means that everyone must have the opportunity to get involved in our European project, a European project of hope and opportunity that must be accessible to all. And when we talk about equal rights, we must talk about rights that are actual and real, not just nominal, not just on paper.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, We must actively include all persons with disabilities in our decision making, and for this we must remove existing barriers. We must continuously work to guarantee inclusion and equality, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. And this Parliament is working on that.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Here, we believe that persons with disabilities have the right to live independently and receive appropriate community based services, and we will continue to deliver on this. We also want to abolish remaining administrative restrictions that hinder the rights of persons with disabilities.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, In this spirit, we are eagerly awaiting the Commission's proposal on this year on an EU-wide European Disability Card. It is high time for mutual recognition of a disability status between Member States. Why are we still not in a situation where we have this?

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Today's event is therefore an opportunity to discuss the experience of the eight countries that already use the European Disability ID card on a voluntary basis. And that have learnt and continue to learn from each other about the associated benefits in areas such as culture, sport and transport. We must make it easier for persons with disabilities to embrace, like all Europeans, Schengen like freedom of movement in a border free European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Now ahead of the 2024 European elections, just a little bit over a year from here. The Parliament has insisted that Member States take action to replace substituted voting, which supported voting across the EU, because respecting the autonomy of those concerned is important for real inclusion.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, So, I encourage you to push for this also on a national level. I encourage you to vote in the next EU elections. I encourage you to exercise your democratic right and equal right given to all EU citizens and I also encourage perhaps some of you to run as candidates in the European elections, to take part in shaping Europe's future, give the next European Parliament a mandate to perform its duties in your interest still.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, Our institution works hard every day to lead by example, to make inclusion a standard in European democracy. Lots of things left to do, not only in terms of physical accessibility, but also accessibility of persons with disabilities to be able to do all jobs in this European Parliament.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, This is what we are committed to and we are implementing. But I want to see a Parliament that does more. And even minor actions can send a major message. So much is possible when we set our minds to change and improve because having a disability shall not hold anyone back anywhere in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, So, I thank you very much for your tireless work towards a more inclusive Europe. Thank you, Yanis and your colleagues for doing so much in terms of pushing forward, advancing and holding us to account and reminding us when we need to do more, reminding us when we need to do better, continue to do that. And I wish you during this day of further inclusion and thoughtful exchanges to do just that. Thank you very much and enjoy your stay here.

European Parliament of persons with disabilities - "Building an inclusive future for persons with disabilities in the EU": opening statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

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