Webinar “Disability Policy in the EU”

1. Webinar “Disability Policy in the EU” 23/02/2017 Frank Sioen Advocacy Officer European Network on Independent Living - ENIL

2. Overview • The EU institutions • The ordinary legislative procedure • Case-study: The European Accessibility Act

3. The EU institutions

4. The European Commission • The Commission will promote the general interest of the Union and take appropriate initiatives to that end • Public service of the EU (50.000 public servants) • Organised into Directorates General (DG’s), like DG employment • President Jean-Claude Juncker • Proposed by the Council, elected by the Parliament • 1 Commission member for each member state (Five year term) • Proposed by each Member States • Selected by the Council and Commission President • Approved by the Parliament

5. The European Parliament • The European Parliament will, jointly with the Council, exercise legislative and budgetary functions. It will exercise functions of political control and consultation as laid down in the Treaties. It will elect the President of the Commission. • Not more than 750 members + 1 President ( 5 year term) • Not more then 96 MEP’s per Member State • President Antonio Tajani (2,5 Year term) • Preparatory work done in Committees (22)

6. The Council of the EU • The Council will, jointly with the European Parliament, exercise legislative and budgetary functions. It will carry out policy-making and coordinating functions as laid down in the Treaties. • Ministers according to their area of work at national level • Preparatory work done in COREPER • COREPER 1: Routine • COREPER 2: Difficult • Work COREPER supported by working groups • Exp: Social Questions working group • Standard voting by QMV

7. EuropeanCouncil • The European Council will provide the Union with the necessary impetus for its development and will define the general political directions and priorities thereof. It will not exercise legislative functions. • Meeting of heads of state established in 1974 as informal meeting, since Lisbon treaty a real institution • Decisions are made by consensus • President Donald Tusk ( 2,5 year term) • The President of the Commission and the HR for Foreign Affairs are also a member of the European Council • The European Council President has to report the results of every meeting to the Parliament

8. EuropeanCourt of Justice • The Court of Justice of the European Union will include the Court of Justice, the General Court and specialised courts. It will ensure that in the interpretation and application of the Treaties the law is observed. • Has established key principles of EU law • Interprets EU legislation (what is a disability?)

9. Other EU institution • Advice: • The European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) • Committee of the Regions (CoR) • Control • Court of auditors : guardian of the EU finances • Ombudsman: complaints against the EU institutions

10. The ordinary legislative procedure • The ordinary legislative procedure will consist in the joint adoption by the European Parliament and the Council of a regulation, directive or decision on a proposal from the Commission.

11. The ordinary legislative procedurein practice • The Commission does a legislative proposal • The Parliament Comities and Council preparatory bodies start to study it • Depending on the legal basis and content of the proposal a specific EP Committee (and similarly Council working group) will take the lead. • Other EP Committees can suggest amendments to the leading Committee by writing reports • NGO’s/civil society give input • Adoption of the first position in the Parliament which is send to the Council • Council can accept the EP positions or suggest changes and send it back

12. European Accessibility Act (EAA) • IMCO Committee rapporteur: first Robert Rochefort since November 2016, Morten Løkkegaard • Shadow rapporteur’s: • Sabine Verheyen (EPP) • Olga Sehnalová (S&D) • Anneleen Van Bossuyt (ECR) • Jiří Maštálka (GUE/NGL) • Igor Šoltes (Greens) • Marco Zullo (EFDD) • Marcus Pretzell (ENF) • COREPER 1 and social questions

13. EuropeanAccessibility Act (EAA) • 02/12/2015: European Commission publishes the proposal for the EAA • 23/02/2016: ENIL position Paper on the Act • 25/02/216: Council working party on social questions starts to work on the Act • 03/06/2016: COREPER 1 starts to work on the Act • 11/07/2016: ENIL amendments on the proposed EAA • 11/07/2016: ENIL meeting with MEP Rochefort • 14/07/2016: Opinion of the EP Culture Committee on the Act • 01/08/2016: EP Petitions Committee analysis of the Act • 03/01/2017: EP Transport Committee opinion on the Act • 06/01/2017: EPInternal market Committee (IMCO) draft report on the Act • 06/02/2017: EP Petitions Committee opinion on the Act • 06/03/2017: IMCO Committee debate on amendments to the Act • 21/03/2017: IMCO Committee vote on the amendments

14. Links • European Parliament overview page: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=&reference=2015/0278(COD) • Working Party on Social Questions: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/council-eu/preparatory-bodies/working-party-social-questions/ • COPEPER 1: http://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/documents-publications/ • European Commission overview page: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1202 • ENIL website on the Act: http://enil.eu/news/enils-position-on-the-european-accessibility-act/ • General EU studies textbook: https://he.palgrave.com/companion/Nugent-The-Government-And-Politics-Of-The-European-Union/

16. Thank you!Frank.sioen@enil.euENIL www.enil.eu ENIL Brussels Office Mundo J, Rue de l’Industrie 10, 1000 Brussels, Belgium Tel: 0032 (0)2 893 25 83