Implementation of disability provisions in the structural funds The case of

Greece

Marily Christofi, Accessibility expert, NCDP Collaborator

NCDP is…

the Greek ‘umbrella’ organization of persons with disabilities and their families,

founded in 1989 , recognized as a key interlocutor of the

Greek state for disability issues, has specialized expertise and

administrative capacity to implement projects in the frame of the Structural Funds,

participates in the Economic and Social Committee of Greece, and the European one through the Greek delegation, by its president

the contribution of the Structural Funds particularly important for the development of the country ,

that especially today, in the frame of the financial crisis, the Funds will be the major if not the only development tool,

the Funds have to be exploited in the best possible way for the benefit of all citizens, including citizens with disabilities.

NCDP considers…

NCDP aims to…

the horizontal mainstreaming of disability and accessibility concepts to the actions targeted to the general public

the provision of actions targeted to persons with disabilities

NCDP insures “rostrum” and “information”

former periods: non-voting member of some Monitoring Committees

2007-2013: voting member of the Monitoring Committees of all the Operational Programs

2014-2020: the action will continue

2007-2013 report submitted to the Parliament for the impact of Article 16

of the Regulation 1083/2006 in the operational programs informal "help desk" of Managing Authorities in disability and

accessibility issues creation of two eligibility criteria on non-discrimination and

accessibility checking of all documents to ensure the mainstreaming of

disability and accessibility and the inclusion of actions targeted to persons with disabilities

pushing for the establishment of e-accessibility legislation national standard for the holistic accessibility of organizations /

businesses cooperation with the Greek Statistical Authority open issue : the effective control of the accessibility of the

deliverables of this period

2014-2020 (until now)

approval of NCDP’s official function as Managing Authorities’ "help desk"

Working Group on mainstreaming disability and non-discrimination in the CSF 2014-2020, under the National Coordination Authority

participation in the consultation of all operational programs

meeting with all the Managing Authorities in northern Greece about the new provisions of the Structural Funds on disability and accessibility. Similar cooperation with the rest of Managing Authorities will follow

seminar informing disability organizations staff , who will represent NCDP in the Monitoring Committees, in the new Regulations – highlighting of local needs and indicative actions to be submitted to Managing Authorities

General ex-ante conditionality 3: the big challenge

training of Managing Authorities’ staff on disability and accessibility issues : 8 -9 October in Athens (presentations and workshops for the specialization of disability and accessibility)

training material, tele- courses, seminars on specialized topics, forum on the mainstreaming of disability and accessibility in the CSF operational programs etc.

NCDP considers necessary

The creation of supporting tools to specialize Article 9 of UNCRPD in the thematic objectives of EU policy for the upcoming period

The provision at European level of a mechanism monitoring the fulfillment of the general conditionality 3 and the application of Article 9 of UNCRPD

In this period of economic crisis…

… it has to be ensured in a practical and clear way that the European Funds will be used on equal basis for the benefit of all citizens including citizens with disabilities!

Thank you!