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The event started with a meeting of EU Member State government representatives during which the participants reported on the latest developments and national measures implemented in the field of disability policy, with a particular focus on inclusive education.
After the meeting, Latvian Minister for Welfare Uldis Augulis opened the conference entitled "From Inclusive Education to Inclusive Employment for Persons with Disabilities".
"The Latvian Presidency has placed a special focus on disability issues in its six-month programme in order to draw more attention to these issues at European level. In my view, this can provide a new impetus to strengthening the commitment to ensure equal rights for persons with disabilities. We have a clear vision about the main emphasis in the implementation of the European Disability Strategy for the next five years. We have included our priorities in the Presidency conclusions on disability. In order to improve social inclusion for persons with disabilities, we need to strengthen our cooperation with civil society and use new technologies and financing from the EU Structural Funds. I am pleased to see that we are moving towards the development of community-based services and deinstitutionalisation, issues which will continue to be the focus of the Latvian Presidency," Minister Augulis stressed.
The conference participants were also addressed by Mārīte Seile, the Latvian Minister for Education and Science, Maria-Luisa Cabral, representing the European Commission Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Yannis Vardakastanis, the President of the European Disability Forum, and other distinguished guests.
At the end of the conference, Minister Augulis presented the Presidency conclusions on disability. These highlighted the need for further work by the Member States and the EU to ensure the rights and freedoms of all persons with disabilities, by fully implementing the principles defined in the UN Convention and placing a special emphasis on children with disabilities. The following issues also play an important role: the improvement of support mechanisms; the integration of children and young people with disabilities into society; the lifelong provision of accessible education and suitable employment; the development of assistive technologies (technical aids); the efficient use of EU Structural Funds to improve the quality of life for persons with disabilities; and the strengthening of cooperation between the governmental and non-governmental sectors in order to represent and execute the interests of persons with disabilities.
The meeting was co-financed by the European Commission.
