EU traineeships for disabled graduates 'will open doors' - MEP

10.27.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 8th Aug 2008

The European Commission has launched a traineeship scheme for graduates with disabilities, to introduce them to working within the EU's executive and bring down barriers to their integration in the workplace.

The funded five-month traineeships are based in Brussels and open to all nationals of EU Member States with a documented disability who have at least a Bachelor's degree and good knowledge of two of the bloc's official languages.

Local Euro-MP Liz Lynne, who has for years campaigned for disability rights and is Vice President of the European Parliament's Disability Intergroup, praised the scheme, saying:

"Too often people with disabilities are overlooked in the workplace and their talent goes to waste because of others' prejudgments. Disabled people still suffer from more unemployment and under-employment than their able-bodied counterparts so a new move to counterbalance this is extremely positive.

"These traineeships will give local disabled graduates a chance to work at the centre of one of the EU's main institutions, opening doors to future career possibilities in the political and civil service world. It would be wonderful to see more young talented people from our region working at the heart of the EU, so I hope many will apply."

ENDS

Notes:

Information on how to apply for the traineeships can be viewed here: http://ec.europa.eu/stages/index_en.htm

Liz Lynne MEP was the European Parliament's rapporteur on the 2005 United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities. She continues to campaign for the convention's signing and ratification. The UK has signed the Convention but has yet to ratify it and has failed to sign the vital optional protocol. More information at: http://www.un.org/disabilities/

Liz Lynne MEP was author of the 2007 joint report for the European Parliament on Social Protection, Social Inclusion and Social Reality Stocktaking which was resoundingly adopted by the European Parliament. Please find a link to the report: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A6-2007-0400+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN

Liz Lynne is also campaigning for an end to discrimination in access to goods and services on all grounds not currently covered, including disability. Her report was adopted earlier this year by the European Parliament and contributed to the European Commission's recent proposals for such legislation. It can be viewed here: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+REPORT+A6-2008-0159+0+DOC+XML+V0//EN&language=EN