By Martin Banks - 28th January 2010
People with disabilities should be able to achieve whatever they want in life
Adam Kosa
A leading NGO has demanded the EU takes "firm" action to tackle poverty for people with disabilities.
Ask Andersen, of the European Disability Forum, says the 2010 European year for combating poverty and social exclusion is an "ideal" opportunity to promote the rights of handicapped people.
Speaking in parliament on Wednesday, Andersen, a policy officer, said that people with disabilities suffer "disproportionately" from economic hardship and poverty.
"The 'European year' is a good opportunity to highlight these problems," said the Dane.
Andersen, who suffers from impaired sight, was speaking at an event organised by parliament's disability intergroup.
Adam Kosa, a deaf Hungarian MEP and president of the group, said it had always been his "dream" to become an MEP.
He added, "The point is that people with disabilities should be able to achieve whatever they want in life."
Kosa, elected in last year's European elections, said he plans to campaign for the adoption of a "disability pact" by all EU governments.
The annual report of the Brussels-based forum, presented at the event, said that "many" of the 65 million people in Europe with a disability "remain invisible citizens".
"They are still forced to deal with discrimination, social exclusion, isolation and, too often, poverty," it says.
