1. Helga Stevens, MEP 17 May 2016 EESC - Brussels
Concluding observations of the UN CRPD Committee to the EU European Parliament
Helga Stevens, MEP
17 May 2016
EESC - Brussels

2. EU Review – Background 1
Following ratification: EU now subject to scrutiny by CRPD Committee
EU produced initial report on the status of the implementation in June 2014 (periodic report due every 4 years)
17 April 2015: CRPD Committee response (“List of Issues”)
20 May 2015: EP Plenary resolution (urging Commission to take EP into account when formulating answer to list of issues)

3. EU Review – Background 2
August 2015: CRPD Committee publishes “Concluding observations on the initial report of the European Union”
Require EU to answer the CRPD Committee regarding certain issues within one year (i.e. September 2016)
Main task of responding lies with Commission
BUT: EP must comply as an institution (e.g. for public events or as an employer)

4. EU Review – Background 3
EP decision: own-initiative-report to ensure its opinions are included in the Commission report (on-going)
Full title: Implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities with special regard to the Concluding Observations of the UN CRPD Committee
In EMPL: also proposal of an annual CRPD implementation report (currently under discussion)

5. Committees involved EMPL – lead PETI & LIBE associated Committees
Other opinion-giving Committees:
AFET (DROI)
DEVE
ENVI
TRAN
REGI
CULT
JURI
FEMM
Associated Committees means that in their area of expertise LIBE and PETI’s paragraphs will be included in the EMPL report without vote
The other Committees make an opinion and EMPL votes on the paragraphs – if they get a majority, those paragraphs are also added to the main report
Rare to get so many Committees for opinion: shows intersectionality of disability rights as human rights and as relevant in all areas of life!
One of the highest numbers of opinion-giving Committees (normally only around 2-3)

6. CRPD Report – Structure
General principles and obligations (arts. 1-4)
Specific rights (arts. 5-30)
Specific obligations (arts )
European Union institutions’ compliance with the Convention (as public administrations)

7. CRPD Report – Outlook 1 183 amendments tabled
Many were suggestions from disability organisations
All my AMs were jointly tabled with Disability Intergroup colleagues
Currently in the process of negotiating compromise amendments in shadow meetings
Large consensus among shadows about key issues
Opinions will be included in final report (in their areas of competence)

8. CRPD Report – Outlook 2
Vote in plenary: July (in time for intermediate Commission report due September 2016)
Disability Intergroup plans press event/conference in the same week to celebrate adoption of report
Disability Intergroup event planned on Thursday, 7 July in Strasbourg
Next periodic report due to be submitted to CRPD Committee: 23 January 2021 (combined second and third report)
Combined report due to the backlog within the CRPD Committee (if a report is submitted now, a country would have to wait 8 years to be considered)
NOTE: the EU was fast-tracked

9. Contact
Helga Stevens