Greece co-signed the EU Declaration on Awareness for Persons with Disabilities
The Greek government, through the Ministry of Social Cohesion and Family, co-signed the European Union Declaration on Awareness for Persons with Disabilities during Poland’s Presidency of the EU Council.
According to a relevant press release from the ministry, Greece “actively participates in the dialogue through the European Platform for Disability and responsibly and consistently co-shapes the European Union’s social policy for the rights of persons with disabilities.”
Among the 25 member states that co-signed this significant initiative, Greece supports the European alignment on issues of visibility for the disability movement.
“Society becomes aware when governments take measures and proceed with reforms. We are working at both national and European levels for a society that is aware, open, fair, inclusive, and accessible. Our fellow citizens with disabilities are visible to us. Awareness, information, the design of sustainable policies, and taking action are European and national priorities. We contribute practically to the common goal with a framework of support policies for persons with disabilities and their families,” emphasized the Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michailidou.
Specializing in the government policies of the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Ms. Michailidou stated that “15,000 of our fellow citizens will receive electric wheelchairs at no financial burden, 2,500 persons with disabilities will make their homes truly accessible, thousands of our fellow citizens with disabilities will be digitally trained at modern empowerment hubs, while already 1,500 have acquired their own Personal Assistant. At the same time, with the ‘My Home II’ program, we are expanding housing opportunities in residences with increased accessibility requirements.”
The Minister of State, Akis Skertsos, as head of the Coordinating Mechanism for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, stated: “The greatest challenge in the fight we are waging for a Greece with everyone, for everyone, is to make persons with disabilities visible throughout society. They should no longer live as ‘invisible’ people in a hostile or unwelcoming environment.
That is why one of the main goals of our National Strategy for Disability, along with ensuring accessibility and independent living, is to inform and educate society on inclusion issues. To achieve the inclusion of all persons with disabilities in the entirety of the social, economic, political, and cultural life of the country, persistence, patience, planning, and collaborations are required. For the first time, Greece has both the plan and the will, utilizing all available national and community resources.”
Through the EU Declaration on Awareness for Persons with Disabilities, Greece collaborates with the other member states of the European Union and co-signs the commitment to combat stereotypes surrounding disability and to enhance the visibility of persons with disabilities. (18/7/25)
