Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta ink gender equality declaration

The Netherlands, Slovakia and Malta as the new Presidency of the Council of the European Union trio signed a joint declaration on gender equality which is to be one of the main goals and tasks of the EU. The main focus of the declaration is placed on increasing the employment of women. The trio emphasises that equality of men and women is a proviso for securing economic growth, prosperity, wealth and social inclusion. Women are generally more at risk of poverty and social exclusion than men. The declaration features a list of concrete steps that would support the progress in the field of gender equality over the course of the following 18 months. At the same time, the trio also submitted a proposal regarding the European Accessibility Act, which calls for handicapped people to be able to fully and effectively participate in normal life, defining goods and services that disabled people have to have available like other people, such as ATMs, banking services, telecommunications and transportation. According to European Commission's data there are about 80 million people with health disabilities in the EU who face obstacles in these areas.