European Commission to Update the EU Disability Rights Strategy

European Commission to Update the EU Disability Rights Strategy

On December 19, the European Commission shared it will present new actions and flagship initiatives for the EU Disability Rights Strategy in 2025. The Commissioner for Equality, Hadja Lahbib, made the announcement during the European Parliament debate on the topic, receiving strong support from Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to close “major gaps” in disability rights. Employment, accessibility, and independent living were highlighted as key areas of focus.

Commissioner Lahbib highlighted that the United Nation’s review of the EU’s progress in implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities will guide the Strategy’s future actions, aiming for tangible improvements in the lives of people with disabilities.

The Strategy, launched in 2021 and running until 2030, has been instrumental in pushing forward important achievements, like the European Disability Card Directive. However, the list of initiatives included in its framework concluded at the end of this year, prompting organisations working in the field to express strong concern that without a new update for the next five years, the EU’s progress on disability rights could come to a standstill.

The European Disability Forum, of which EPR is a member of, has been a key advocate for the need of the Strategy update. Follow their coverage of the announcement here.