112: lives can be saved by a barrier-free 112 emergency service 2011. 09. 14. Ádám Kósa MEP and Marian-Jean Marinescu MEP - A proposal by EPP Group MEPs Ádám Kósa, the only deaf MEP in the European Parliament, and Marian-Jean Marinescu, Vice-Chairman of the EPP Group, concerning equal access for people with disabilites to emergency services has been presented to Parliament. The aim of the Written Declaration launched this week is to grant full access to the standardised European emergency number 112 for the deaf and hard-of-hearing, as well as people with speaking disabilities.
Left-liberal attack against EU counter terrorism policy 2011. 09. 13. Press Release of MEP Ágnes Hankiss - Members of the European Parliament were set to cast votes today on an own-initiative report by the Dutch liberal MEP, Sophia In't Veld bearing the rather ambitious title "EU counter-terrorism policy: main achievements and future challenges". However, the political left suddenly retreated again and asked for the postponement of the vote for the second time.
Disabilities: promoting disability requires a joint European commitment! Ádám Kósa MEP 2011. 09. 07. "Our ageing European society cannot avoid integrating the more than 80 million people with disabilities into the education and labour market in order to manage current and upcoming employment challenges", said EPP Group MEP Ádám Kósa, host of today's EPP Group Hearing on Inclusion and Mobility of People with Disabilities. At the event, which was the first completely barrier-free public hearing in the history of the European Parliament, representatives of the European Commission announced that the new European Accessibility Act will be presented in the autumn of 2012.
The Hungarian Presidency proved its competence by making real progress on the European agenda 2011. 06. 30. Press release by the Hungarian Delegation of the EPP Group - The Hungarian EU Presidency made outstanding achievements over the past six months. As many European leaders have stated in the last few days, the Hungarian Presidency acted professionally and successfully in its role, and gained non-forfeitable merits through strengthening the European economy, deepening integration and making Europe safer. Hungary has realised most of its commitments and reacted resolutely to extraordinary situations.
Braille: clear commitment for Braille labelling of industrial products. 2011. 06. 24. The Written Declaration on a voluntary system of labelling in Braille format on the packaging of industrial products, initiated by Konstantinos Poupakis and Ádám Kósa, EPP Group MEPs, and with the support of three other MEPs from the S&D, ALDE and Green Groups, was endorsed at today's plenary with the biggest support in this legislative term. This record - with 447 supporting signatures - is a clear demonstration of the Parliament's commitment to putting the challenges of people with disabilities on the European agenda.
Fundamental Rights Agency: Promise to support national Roma inclusion strategies 2011. 06. 15. Morten Kjaerum, director of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) has presented the agency's 2010 activities to the EP's Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Committee (LIBE). Answering the question of Lívia Járóka, rapporteur of the EU strategy on Roma inclusion, the director confirmed that the FRA was willing to assist the development of national Roma inclusion strategies already as of the planning phase.
Praise to the hard work of the Hungarian EU Presidency and the Rapporteur 2011. 05. 25. Press Release by MEP Lívia Járóka - Viviane Reding, Vice-President of the European Commission reported today to the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs on the implementation of the Commission Work Programme for 2011 and the preparation of the 2012 programme. MEP Lívia Járóka, rapporteur of the EU Strategy on Roma Inclusion welcomed the Commission's intent to launch infringement procedures against non-compliant countries. In her answer the Commissioner mentioned that approximately 26.5 billion euros would be available for social inclusion at the EU-level and promised to provide technical assistance to the Member States in drafting their national action plans.
Europe should stand united on promoting the disability agenda 2011. 05. 25. Today, MEP Ádám Kósa presented his report on disability in the Committee of Employment and Social Affairs in the European Parliament. The document, a fruit of broad consultations between all stakeholders including political groups and a wide range of NGOs, aims to introduce a revolutionary approach on disability, promotes barrier-free accessibility, special communication techniques for the deaf and hard of hearing people and proposes new pattern of inclusive education system.
Hungarian Constitution: a demagogic attack against Hungarian sovereignty by the European Socialists 2011. 04. 19. Press Release of the Hungarian EPP Group Delegation - By calling on the European Commission to assess the recently-adopted new Hungarian Constitution by the S&D Group, in a press release issued today, is a serious attack against Hungarian sovereignty. Constitutionalism is part of national sovereignty and even Mr Schulz and the European Socialists should not question the right of the Hungarian Parliament, whose members were elected by Hungarian citizens in a democratic way, to adopt a new constitution. Mr Schulz should have rather called his Hungarian Socialist fellows to represent their voters and participate in the debate in the Hungarian Parliament on the new Constitution, which they refused to do.