EU Disability Policy and Implications of EU Accession for Disability Rights in Education and Employment in Bulgaria,Romania,Croatia,and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online March, 2012
EU Disability Policy and Implications of EU Accession for Disability Rights in Education and Employment in Bulgaria,Romania,Croatia,and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
The effects of EU candidacy and accession on disability rights in education and employment are examined in two new member and two candidate countries. The development of EU disability policy is also discussed, especially as EU policy impacts reforms in Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Analysis is based on the existing literature and personal communication with scholars and activists in the countries of inquiry. Although considerable progress has been made in antidiscrimination legislation in the four countries, a lack of political will and inadequate financing means that real on-the-ground progress in advancing disability rights is limited. The article concludes with recommendations for how the EU and its administrative bodies and members of disability communities in the four countries can better advance disability rights in education and employment as part of the accession process.
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