1. Commission européenne 1 -1- EU Employment Strategy for people with Disabilities Final Conference Conversion Strasbourg, 21 Sept. 2007 Egbert Holthuis European Commission, DG Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities

2. Commission européenne 2 -2- The European Employment Strategy (EES) has coordinated Member States' employment policies since 1997 through: common European guidelines and recommendations annual national action plans for employment monitoring, evaluation and mutual learning at EU level The European Employment Strategy  A policy framework which complements EU action in the field of employment (cf. legislation, social dialogue and the European Social Fund)

3. Commission européenne 3 -3- The Lisbon Agenda Lisbon objective (2000): to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion (+ respect for the environment)  Why? EU lagging behind in terms of GDP per capita, employment and productivity rates Facing up the challenges of demographic change and global economic integration (+ enlargement) Need for coordinated action at EU level (governance)

4. Commission européenne 4 -4- The renewed Lisbon Strategy (2) Implementation at Member States' level: New integrated EU Guidelines for Growth and Jobs (2005-2008), combining:  the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines (BEPGs) covering macro- and micro-economic policies,  the Employment Guidelines (EGs) for employment policies MS developed National Reform Programmes for 2005- 2008 (Autumn 2005), with updates in 2006/2007

5. Commission européenne 5 -5- Today’s policy views  EES has contributed to modernisation of employment policies in the EU Focus on more employment Active and preventive policies Recognition human capital Synergies between quality and productivity Equal opportunities Employment friendly tax reforms/MWP Relationship employment creation and wage development Role public authorities Use if indicators, policy monitoring and evaluation

6. Commission européenne 6 -6- Europe's Labour Market Challenges Low employment rates compared with our competitors High share of inactive people Productivity growth Diversity of performance and inequality An ageing population

7. Commission européenne 7 -7-

8. 8 -8- The impact of ageing Total employment (in million) assuming an employment rate of 70 % in 2010 and for the following period until 2030 Source: Eurostat, Commission services calculation, based on Eurostat Populations projections.

9. Commission européenne 9 -9- Employment situation of people with disabilities Employment is a major concern for people with disabilities (16% of the overall working age population in the EU). Only five in ten disabled EU citizens of working age have a job, compared to more than six in ten non-disabled people. Moreover disabled people are more than twice as likely as non-disabled people to be 'inactive' on the labour market Additionally the more severe the degree of disability, the lower the participation in the labour force

10. Commission européenne 10 -10- A double challenge Raising the participation of disabled people in employment is a necessity because of the impact of demographic ageing, which will tighten the labour supply in Europe in the near future. It is also a challenge because disabled people face a number of additional barriers in obtaining mainstream employment in an increasingly competitive environment

11. Commission européenne 11 -11- The EU disability strategy: improve labour market participation Active inclusion and full participation of all people with disabilities in society, in line with the EU Human rights approach to disability issues. The European Disability Action Plan organises the actual implementation of the European Disability strategy and aims at promoting the independent living of people with disabilities both by virtue of having a job as well as by being actively included in society. Mainstreaming: Inclusion of disability dimension in relevant Community policy areas

12. Commission européenne 12 -12- Disability related labour market policies Active Labour Market Policies Role of supported and sheltered environments Organisation of working arrangements Vocational rehabilitation Incentives for starting enterprises by disabled people

13. Commission européenne 13 -13- EU instruments Anti-discrimination (Equal Treatment) Employment and training (including state aid) EES (Guideline 19, OMC, PES) Information and Communication technologies European Social Fund

14. Commission européenne 14 -14- Prospects of Flexicurity policies Enhance, at the same time, flexibility of labour markets, work organisation and labour relations, and security –employment security and social security. Flexible contractual arrangements Active labour market policies Lifelong learning Modern social security systems

15. Commission européenne 15 -15- Conclusion: a variety of strategies needed Differences labour market, welfare systems, heterogeneity workers: overcome barriers: Employment (employment/work incentives, changing employment practices, combating discrimination) Education and learning (incentives) Work environment

16. Commission européenne 16 -16- More Information Commission's Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities website: http://europa.eu.int/comm/ employment_social/index_en.htm