Why is a European Law on Disability Discrimination important

EU law offers great potential for advancing the rights and interests of disabled people living within the European Union, but this potential is yet to be fully realised. A major step forward in this regard is the recently adopted Framework Directive for equal treatment in employment and occupation – a measure constituting the first European law on disability discrimination. Through a brief outline of what may be described as the two main strands of EU activity from which an advancement in disability rights can be gained, namely the ‘human rights’ and the ‘design for all’ strands, this presentation seeks to place the Framework Directive within the broader context of an evolving EU disability policy. Falling squarely within the ‘human rights strand’, this directive is examined both in terms of its importance to disabled people as a European law, as well as its place within the wider disability agenda of the European Union. By so doing, this presentation aims to provide the audience with a greater awareness of the potential proffered by EU law for the advancement of disability rights and, as a result, a greater facility to fully exploit that potential. Whilst the nature of the question set for this presentation necessitates a generic approach to disability, specific reference will be made to learning disabilities where pertinent.