Roundtable on Procurement, Accessibility, and a More Inclusive Covid Recovery. Part of the European Inclusive Procurement Discussion Series.

Date: June 21, 2022

Location: Online, Brussels

Overview:

The 90-minute expert roundtable discussion explored and promoted a greater uptake of the European procurement directive’s accessibility provisions as European Union (EU) member states make technology investments through the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF).

The interactive discussion covered the following timely and critical topics:

  • Overview of the digital transformation pillar of the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility and the opportunity for increasing inclusion, accessibility, and equity.
  • Discussion of specific member state RRF plans for digital transformation with government, industry, and disability leaders.
  • Review of key European norms and regulations addressing accessibility and digital inclusion of persons with disabilities and socially responsible public procurement.
  • Guidance on how procurement can support more inclusive digital transformation and recovery, including how public sector bodies can specify accessibility for persons with disabilities in the procurement of ICT products and services under their RRF digital transformation plans.

Speakers:

  • Almudena Alcaide, R&D Director, ONCE
  • Alvaro Couceiro, Social Policy Officer, European Disability Forum (EDF)
  • Humberto Insolera, Member of the Executive Committee of EDF
  • Esa Kaunistola, Director, Trade and Industrial Policy, European Government Affairs, Microsoft
  • Olivier Magritte, Secretariat, Belgian Disability Forum
  • Silvia Mestres, EU Funds Business Program Manager, Microsoft
  • Félix Poirier, Policy Officer, Recovery and Resilience Task Force, European Commission
  • Inmaculada Placencia-Porrero, Senior Expert, Directorate-General for Employment, European Commission
  • Jeremy Rollison, Senior Director, EU Government Affairs, Microsoft
  • James Thurston, Vice President for Global Strategy and Development, the Global Initiative for Inclusive ICTs (G3ict)

Roundtable resources: