By 2020, we expect 120 million Europeans – one fifth of Europe’s population –to have some form of disability. This brings many challenges. How do we ensure that they can enjoy their right to inclusive and quality education? Which services are necessary to enable them to participate in the open labour market and in society on an equal footing with others? How do we adapt the work environment to their needs?If we do not address these challenges, about 20 per cent of the population in the EUwill not be able to fully participate in society.
To guide our joint efforts for a more accessible Europe, we launched the European Pillar of Social Rights, with 20 rights and principles for a fairer and more social Europe. In November 2017, the Pillar was jointly proclaimed by the European Commission, the European Parliament and all Member States. Everyone is now mobilised to put the Pillar into practice. In Malta, measures to improve access to employment for people with disabilities are already beginning to bear fruit. Whereas only 11 per cent of enterprises were hiring workers with disabilities in 2014, the number increased to close to 60 per cent in 2017.
Malta is working to maximisethe abilities of people with a disability to increase their chances of finding a job. With the support of the European Social Fund, projects are taking off the ground to support thousands of people to find their way into employment. In our proposal for the next EU budget, we ask Member States to allocate at least 25 per cent of their European Social Fund Plus funding, compared to 20 per cent today, to measures that foster social inclusion. In addition, we keep pushing for a European accessibility act to make products and services such as computers, telephony ande-books more accessible. This will help blindpeople to use websites in their daily jobs, for instance.
By ensuring fair access to education for all children and employment opportunities for all adults, we empower them to participate more fully in work and in society. In Malta, four in 10children with disabilities drop out of school, and three in four people with disabilities are out of work. This is quite a high proportion and it represents a major challenge for Malta.
We should focus on how talented and resilient people with disabilities are, not their vulnerabilities when talking about them. Investing in their futureis an investment in the future of Europe. We need everyone’s talents regardless of ability, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation to make Europe competitive and cohesive in the future. The Pillar is our joint commitment to break down barriers and make Europe a better and more inclusive place. Now is the time to turn the Pillar into a living and breathing reality, for all Europeans.
Dr Thyssen is European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility.