EURO MP INSISTS ON DISABLED PEOPLES ACCESS ACROSS EUROPE

6.20.30pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 7th Sep 2005

Liz Lynne MEP attended a meeting today of the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), a movement to further equal opportunities and self-respect for people with disabilities. The meeting focussed on bringing greater autonomy to disabled people throughout Europe and in developing countries.

"Disabled people should have the same freedom of movement within the EU as non-disabled people. It is great that some countries have taken steps to accommodate disabled people, but these efforts must be spread to all countries of the European Union.

"A great strength of the EU is the movement of labour resources that are so necessary for our success. Disabled people represent a valuable part of our workforce, and they must be given the facilities to work anywhere in Europe independently.

"Disabled people should have the same rights to use the local grocery, attend the neighbourhood school and travel on the same bus.

"We need common rights for disabled people across the EU, only a specific Disability Directive can ensure this so that disabled people can have access to goods and services as well as to employment.

"Disabled people should not have to rely on anyone to get through their day to day lives. They should be able to make their own choices. In short, they should be independent and free, just like non-disabled people."

ENDS

Notes To Editors

As well as being the rapporteur of the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003, Liz also drafted the Parliament's report supporting a UN Convention on Disabled People's Rights earlier that year. The Commission promised at the end of that year they would produce proposals for EU wide disability directive. So far, this has failed to materialise.