Dr. Agius, appointed EPP Rapporteur by the PETI and SANT Committees, has tabled 14 amendments to strengthen EU disability rights beyond 2024.

Peter Agius’s role aims to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy all fundamental rights, including the right to work, to participate in the social and political life of their country, and even to form a family.

He emphasised that access to these rights must be considered as essential EU freedoms.

Among the key proposals, Agius called for the integration of disability-specific initiatives into the EU’s AI and digital transformation agenda. His amendments encourage leveraging technologies such as speech recognition to improve communication for persons with hearing and speech impairments.

Recognising the importance of civic participation, Agius proposed measures to promote the involvement of persons with disabilities not only as voters but also as candidates. He called on the European Commission to assess and act upon the 2024 election outcomes to further enable electoral inclusion.

Further amendments stress the need for inclusive education from early childhood through to higher education, and for equipping educators with inclusive teaching methodologies. Agius also highlighted the vital role of family and informal carers, urging for their recognition and support within national and EU frameworks.

Accessibility is a core theme running through Agius’ proposals, with specific references to physical access, readable labels, and design for all, including through initiatives like the New European Bauhaus. He also advocated for stronger involvement of the Disability Platform and representative organisations in legislative processes, rooted in the principle of “nothing about us without us.”

“These proposals are about turning promises into practical action,” Agius stated. “The EU must lead by example, embedding accessibility and inclusion across every policy, and empowering persons with disabilities to shape the decisions that affect their lives.”

The proposed amendments form part of the ongoing debate on strengthening the EU’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring that every European, regardless of ability, can thrive in an inclusive society.

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Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness Miriam Dalli launched the Saving Our Blue campaign for the seventh consecutive year.

The primary objective of this campaign is to raise public awareness about the negative impacts of littering, the importance of reducing waste generation, and the need to transition from single-use plastics to sustainable, reusable alternatives.

To further promote marine conservation and the protection of Marine Protected Areas, an activity book was launched which includes a variety of educational activities all themed around the marine environment.

Minister Miriam Dalli said, “Every child can be a champion for change and sustainability. We will help them lead the way in their communities by giving them the necessary tools and knowledge. When children learn about sustainable practices, they inspire their friends and encourage their families to adopt greener habits. Together, we can nurture a generation of environmentally conscious young leaders who will shape a more sustainable future for all.”

The activity book, available in Maltese and English, aims to educate young readers in an engaging and interactive manner.

Starting this coming scholastic year, this activity book will be distributed to all Year 4 students across Malta and Gozo.

With new branding, a redesigned campaign website will also be launched during this summer’s edition to enhance accessibility and usability, supporting greater engagement in campaign initiatives and clean-up activities.

Building on the success of the Virtual Reality (VR) project launched in 2023, the campaign now includes immersive experiences of 14 Marine Protected Areas, adding new sites like the Azure Window Ruins in Dwejra, Hephaestus wreck, Filfla, Billinghurst Cave, Um el Faroud wreck, Cirkewwa Marine Park at night, and Mellieħa Bay Posidonia Meadows.

Furthermore, for the third consecutive year, ballot bins will be reinstalled across various rocky and sandy beaches throughout Malta, Gozo, and Comino. A total of 60 ballot bins have been deployed this year to encourage proper waste disposal in coastal areas.

The Saving Our Blue Campaign was launched as part of a conference marking the progress of the project ‘Neptune – Restoring Our Posidonia Oceanica Seagrass Meadows’, a pilot collaboration between the MEDSEA Foundation, the Foundation de la Mer and the University of Malta.

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