the statement of
EU Commissioner Padraig Flynn that 40 million EU citizens with a disability
were systematically discriminated against in the activities of daily living; the report of the Reflection Group
of the EU, demanding the inclusion of a general Anti-discriminatory Clause
for persons with disabilities in the Maastricht Treaty;8that the President
of the EU Parliament Klaus Haensch and other EU Commissioners supported
the inclusion of an anti-discrimination Clause for disabled persons;the Resolution of the
EU Parliament on the 14 December 1995 requesting the European Commission
and the Member States of the EU to include an anti-discrimination Clause
for disabled persons in the revision of the EU Treaties at the Intergovernmental
Conference;ARTICLE 6
"Within the competence of the Treaty and notwithstanding the requirements of the other Clauses in the Treaties, each decision under the Treaties shall not discriminate on the grounds of Nationality, Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, Age, Disability, Religion or Social Status.
For the purpose of this Treaty, discrimination is defined as violation or disadvantage in the development of persons in equal opportunities in life, society and self-determined lifestyle. Every plan and action must be governed by the principle of equal rights.
ARTICLE 6(a)
The EU must take into consideration in all activities governed by the Treaty, the rights and needs of disabled persons."