Update January 2005

The Luxembourg government has taken over the Presidency of the European Union from the Netherlands on 1 January 2005, and will remain at the EU’s helm for the 6-month period up to June. As the Presidency, it will have a key role in giving impetus to legislative and political decisions, as well as in negotiating agreements between member states and institutions.

EDF therefore set out in a letter addressed to the Luxembourg Presidency what it expects from the Presidency – which issues it should pay particular attention to in its agenda, what initiatives it could usefully take in different areas, and crucially, what kind of approach should it take to questions about Europe’s future. EDF demands do not cover every policy area or issue which are set out in the Luxembourg Presidency priorities over the next 6 months, but only those areas where EDF believes the Presidency can have a significant impact.

Those demands address issues which EDF considers as key priorities for the next 6 months and can be summarised as follows :

To promote the Structural Funds as an essential specific legislation to reduce social exclusion and in which the “mainstreaming” approach based on accessibility and non-discrimination, should be promoted in an horizontal way in all national and European funds, to promote an accessible environment for all and to avoid that new barriers appear.

Mid-Term Review of the Lisbon Strategy : EDF calls the Luxembourg Presidency to ensure that people with disabilities, representing 15% of the active population are give equal opportunities within the information society, the area of innovation and research, education, training and lifelong learning. EDF takes this opportunity to remind about the key obstacles of the labour market to disabled people which are access, quality and limited promotion opportunities, and calls for the new national action programmes proposed by Mr KOK to take into consideration the social inclusion and non-discrimination strategies in the field of employment.

Social Policy Agenda : EDF calls for the inclusion of the Disability Specific Directive as key priority in this Social Policy Agenda which will be adopted in early 2005 and which will run from 2006 to 2010. Moreover, EDF calls for the Social Policy Agenda to obtain a more predominant position in the EU agenda as it is considered as an essential tool for the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Transport : EDF welcomes the inclusion of the Air passengers’ rights Directive including people with reduced mobility in the Luxembourg Presidency priorities and calls for the Presidency to influence on the start of the procedure relating to the legislative package on common rail policy considering the accessibility and needs of rail passengers with reduced mobility.