General Background
The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) is a European non-profit making organisation whose membership comprises National Associations of Deaf people in Europe. Established in 1985, EUD is the only organisation representing the interests of Deaf Europeans at European Union level.
EUD aims to establish and maintain EU level dialogue with the "hearing world" in consultation and co-operation with its member National Deaf Associations.
EUD's mission statement is to promote, advance and protect the rights of and opportunities for Deaf people in the European Union. Emancipation and equal opportunities are key philosophies in our work towards achieving an equal position in society with recognition of Deaf people as full citizens in our own right.
This vision translates into three specific EUD aims:
 Recognition of the right to use an indigenous sign language;
Empowerment through communication and information;
Equality in education and employment.
In the course of our existence, EUD has implemented these aims in every aspect of its work, be that from an advocacy perspective or in our responses to situations we have monitored.
Examples of our continued work are outlined below:
 Recognition of the Right to Use an Indigenous Sign Language
Empowerment through Communication and Information
Equality In Education And Employment
Dissemination of Information
Co-ordination Activities
Co-operation with other organisations
Summary
Contact Persons
Recognition of the Right to Use an Indigenous Sign Language This is a core tenet of EUD's working objectives and significant change has occurred over the past years. Successes include the European parliament's resolutions on the recognition of sign languages in 1988 and again in 1998 and the European Commission sponsored Sign Languages Project (1996-1997) carried out by EUD.
These actions have acted as a catalyst for member associations to work with their national governments in securing de facto, and in several cases, constitutional or legal recognition of their respective national sign language.
We have used the European Year of Languages 2001 to highlight the fact that sign languages also contribute to linguistic diversity in Europe . This has involved discussion and co-operation with other European NGOs, for example, the European Bureau of Lesser Used Languages, and the dissemination of information about the nature of sign languages to
the Council of Europe and the European Commission and other
interested parties.
In 2003 a new milestone was reached when the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation 1598 (2003) on the Protection of sign languages in the member states of the Council of Europe . This is an important achievement since this will also benefit Deaf people living in European countries which are not (yet) member of the European Union.
Empowerment through Communication and Information
Expansive development in the field of information and communication technologies has diluted some of the communication barriers encountered by Deaf people, but potentially creates other difficulties (for example, incompatibility of software/hardware, cost of equipment, etc.).
EUD has been involved in monitoring new developments in this sphere and has acted in an advisory capacity to
the European Disability Forum (EDF) and the European Commission regarding EU policy in this field.
Together with EDF, the European Blind Union (EBU), the European Federation of the Hard of Hearing (EFHOH), EUD has
also lobbied for changes in European Directives relevant to this issue (e.g.
the EU Telecommunications Directives and the EU Television without Frontiers Directive
).
Equality In Education And Employment
EUD has consistently implemented the belief that training and education are a successful route to self-advocacy for Deaf citizens. Gaining equality in education and training entails accessibility of information, often presented in an indigenous sign language or via sign language interpretation.
To this end EUD has regularly organised thematic conferences and seminars on issues that are relevant to Deaf people in Europe .
A main theme for EUD is non-discrimination in employment. This way EUD is contributing to the EU-wide process of implementing the European Directive 2000/78/EC establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation at national level. EUD aims to do so by promoting exchanges of experience between its members and their governments and other actors active in the field of non-discrimination.
Dissemination of Information
EUD publishes a monthly newsletter, "EUD Update" which cross-references developments in the institutions of the European Union, EU member states, and other relevant developments in the field of
deafness/sign language/disability
.
These are disseminated by e-mail and published on the homepage.
The EUD website is also
a means of providing information in a more timely manner to our membership and other interested parties.
Co-ordination Activities
We respond to requests for information from our membership organisations and individuals.
In addition, we provide feedback to the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the European Disability Forum (EDF) on policy matters that are relevant to Deaf people. EUD is frequently asked to send a representative give a presentation at conferences/seminars all over Europe. Furthermore, EUD has been granted participatory status with the Council of Europe, effective from 29 December 2003.
With EU enlargement on the horizon,
EUD has been seeking contacts with National Deaf Associations in Central and Eastern Europe since 2000. EUD attended the 1 st Deaf Pan-European conference held in 2000 in Ljubljana , Slovenia . In addition, EUD organised a pan-European meeting during the 14 th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in July 2003 in Montréal, Canada, which was highly successful. Some National Deaf Associations from Central Europe have already submitted applications for EUD membership and it is hoped that EUD membership will in the short term mirror that of the EU.
With EU enlargement on the horizon, EUD has been seeking contacts with National Deaf Associations in Central and Eastern Europe since 2000. EUD attended the 1 st Deaf Pan-European conference held in 2000 in Ljubljana , Slovenia . In addition, EUD organised a pan-European meeting during the 14th World Congress of the World Federation of the Deaf in July 2003 in Montréal, Canada, which was highly successful. Almost all National Deaf Associations from Central Europe are EUD member and it is hoped that EUD membership will in the short term mirror that of the EU.
Co-operation with other organisations
Through our membership of the European Disability Forum (EDF) (link: www.edf-feph.org), EUD has been able to establish solid contacts with other ENGOs, National Disability Councils and other social partners. EUD also co-operates with the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) on global issues of relevance to the Deaf community.
Summary
EUD has endeavoured to implement the aims embodied in our mission statement in a very practical way in every element of our daily activities as outlined above.
We support members through the dissemination of information, by offering advice on request and by drawing on our broad network of contacts in the field of deafness and beyond.
We monitor developments in domains of relevance to Deaf citizens and respond where appropriate.
We have developed strong partnerships with other key organisations and actively participate in events where the interests of our membership are likely to be affected.
We recognise that much work remains to be done before our goals are adequately achieved.
Contact Persons
Mark WHEATLEY, EUD Director
Johan VERSTRAETE, EUD Administrator
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