Independent MEP Marian Harkin has called called on the European Commission and EU Member States to “ensure that persons with disabilites do not become further marginalised due to austerity measures”.
Speaking in the European Parliament, Harkin argued that “persons with disabilities are always more likely to be at risk of poverty, but under an austerity regime, they have no chance. The impact on all EU citizens is very severe in many Member States undergoing austerity measures, but it is much worse for persons with a disability”.
The Ireland North & West MEP added that “over the last few years in Ireland, we have seen cuts to services, to personal assistant hours, and most recently to mobility allowances. These cuts deprive people of opportunities to interact socially, to attend medical or other treatments, or to go to work”.
“My real fear,” she added, “is that we will undo many years of good work and dismantle or seriously weaken inclusion policies and structures we have painstakingly built up”.
“The risk is that persons with disabilities will be seen as a burden on the state. At a recent hearing in the Employment Committee on this issue, a representative from Belgium spoke of the mindset now more prevalent which views a person in a wheelchair as a liability. ‘You take up my tax money’ is a comment more frequently heard”.
“We appear to be moving from the social inclusion model back to a medical model – a retrograde, negative step,” Harkin said, adding that “this leads to carers – in particular family carers – becoming overburdened and stressed”.
“Finally, reduced welfare spending, reduced services and higher unemployment for persons with a disability will lead to ever increasing numbers living in poverty,” Harkin argued.
The independent MEP concluded that the European Commission and EU Member States must “take proactive steps to ensure that those who are most vulnerable do not become further marginalised”.