Coalition for Disability Rights in Europe (UK) Ltd

The voice of disabled people in the UK on European Issues.

About us

The Coalition for Disability Rights in Europe UK (CDREUK) was created 6 years ago as the voice of disabled people in the UK in Europe.

THE CDREUK elects the UK representatives to attend the European Disability Forum and provides a focus and voice for UK disabled people on issues that affect us determined by the European Commission, Parliament and Council of Ministers.

• The UK is a member of the European Union
• European Legislation effects and impacts on the lives of disabled people in the UK
• The Single Employment Directive of 2000 ensured that all workplaces were covered by the provisions of the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), not just those employing 15 or more as was wanted by the British Government.
• Travelling by air was not covered by the DDA it is now because of the European Air Passenger Directive.
• Travelling by coach, bus, train and boat in Europe will be much improved for disabled people by similar Directives that are under discussion.
• The European Union has adopted the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities and is debating extending single equalities legislation to all areas for all Europeans.
• The European Parliament and Commission are concerned about improving the position of disabled people across Europe The EU can act as a counter weight to a government that wishes to reduce disabled people's rights and benefits.
• The EU has considered electronic communications and there impact on disabled people.
• The Blue Badge parking concession operates throughout European Union Countries.

Why should disabled people in the UK be concerned about what happens in Europe?

What is the EDF?
'The representative organisation of persons with disabilities in Europe'
The European Disability Forum (EDF) is based in Brussels and lobbies and works with the European Commission and Parliament to improve the position of disabled people throughout Europe. THE CDREUK elects our representatives to the EDF Board and the Annual General Assembly we also nominate people with expertise onto the various working groups and standing committees that develop policy.

The EDF has existed for 12 years and has become a powerful network linking all national Councils in the 27 EU countries and all European wide NGOs that focus on particular impairment or disability issues such as independent Living.

With a new Coalition Government that has a different perspective on Europe to the previous Government it is vital that disabled people in UK are linked to and represented in Europe.

Support the CDREUK to give you and all disabled people in the UK a strong voice in Europe.

Contact details:

For any questions or further information please contact:

Richard Rieser (Chair of CDREUK and UK representative on EDF)

For more information please visit the European Disability Forum on http://www.edf-feph.org/

European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=429&langId=en