The Centre for Disability Law and Policy at National University of Ireland, Galway will run a conference on the 3rd of May 2013.   The title of the conference will be ‘Community Living for all’ – A Conference on the Future Role of the European Union Structural funds to Advance Community Living for Older People and People with Disabilities’. It will be ‘an event in association with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU’ which is appropriate given that a stated priority of Ireland’s EU Presidency will be to finalise agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) that will determine the EU budget from 2014-2020 and therefore cohesion funding.  The event is jointly directed by Senator Katherine Zappone, member of the Senate of Ireland and the Centre for Disability Law & Policy directed by Professor Gerard Quinn. 
The conference is open to all interested in the development of positive EU social policy in the fields of ageing and disability. 

The speakers are drawn from a variety of EU-level institutions and others including the European Commission, the EU Fundamental Rights Agency, the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions, the United States Federal Administration for Community Living.  European level civil society groups will be represented by the European Disability Forum and Age Platform Europe.  The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (European Region) will also be represented.  The growing role of European philanthropy in achieving community living will be represented by the European Foundation Centre. 

The conference will be opened by the Irish Minister for Older People, People with Disabilities, Mental Health and Equality – Kathleen Lynch, T.D.  More details on the conference and registration is available here.