The EESC held a debate to celebrate both the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the Olympic spirit during its plenary session on 5 December in Brussels. 

The EESC celebrated both the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the Olympic spirit by inviting guests from the world of Paralympic sport – including Belgian Paralympic athlete and champion Joachim Gérard.

Opening the session, EESC president Oliver Röpke said that ‘This debate highlights the urgent need to address the employment gap faced by persons with disabilities. Despite the existing legal frameworks, far too many people are excluded from the labour market due to persistent barriers. The EESC calls for action to create inclusive workplaces, break down systemic obstacles and ensure equal opportunities for all. A truly inclusive Europe must leave no one behind.’

Mr Gérard, a Belgian wheelchair tennis player and champion, told the plenary that when he first started playing tennis, he was often greeted with surprise and even protests that he would ‘ruin the court’ with his wheelchair. ‘In the last 10 years, we have seen huge progress in the role of people with reduced mobility in the world of sport. I have played in a number of Grand Slams around the world, and through these games and the Paralympics, I feel that I am becoming more and more accepted as a top-level athlete. Not just as a Paralympic athlete, but a top-level athlete.’

Anne d'Ieteren, president of the French-speaking Federation for Disability Sport (La Ligue Handisport Francophone), pointed out that despite the great successes demonstrated by the Paralympic Games, there were still many obstacles in the daily lives of people with disabilities. ‘A significant number of sports facilities are still inaccessible, with inadequate parking facilities or poor design. These may seem like small problems, but their cumulative effect can exclude and discourage participation.’

Aurel Laurenţiu Plosceanu, EESC Vice-President responsible for communication, welcomed Mr Gérard and Ms d'Ieteren, and said that ‘Their presence and track record remind us just how inspiring athletic excellence can be for all of us who strive to achieve our full potential, while also showing the vital role that persons with disabilities play in our society and in the sporting world in particular.’

Christophe Lefèvre, president of the EESC’s Permanent Group on Disability Rights, argued for the establishment of an EU accessibility mechanism with accessibility indicators, covering areas such as sustainable housing, sport, justice and education, while Pietro Vittorio Barbieri (a member the Permanent Group) added that ‘It is essential that all people with disabilities living in Europe have access to sport and education, so that we are all guaranteed the same privileges within society.’ (lm)