Sittings · Document
OPINION (2025/2057(INI)) 2025-07-11
On the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities post-2024
Committee on Public Health · Rapporteur: Giorgos Georgiou
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Public Health submits the following to the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Motion for a resolution
Citation 3
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular in particular Articles 3, 15, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26 and 47 thereof, | – having regard to the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, in particular Articles 3, 15, 20, 21, 23, 25, 26, 35 and 47 thereof, |
Amendment 2
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which entered into force for the EU on 22 January 2011 in accordance with Council Decision 2010/48/EC of 26 November 2009 concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities1, | – having regard to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which entered into force for the EU on 22 January 2011 in accordance with Council Decision 2010/48/EC of 26 November 2009 concerning the conclusion, by the European Community, of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities1, noting, in particular, Article 25 of the UNCRPD, which sets out the parameters for disability-inclusive healthcare and which requires that persons with disabilities have the right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability, _______________ 1 OJ L 23, 27.01.2010, p. 35, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2010/48(1)/oj. |
| _________________ | |
| 1 OJ L 23, 27.01.2010, p. 35, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2010/48(1)/oj. |
Amendment 3
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare1a, ______________ 1a OJ L 88, 4.4.2011, p. 45, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2011/24/oj. |
Amendment 4
Motion for a resolution
Citation 4 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the Commission guidance notice of 29 November 2024 on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding1a, ______________ 1a OJ C, C/2024/7188, 29.11.2024, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/7188/oj. |
Amendment 5
Motion for a resolution
Citation 6
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the Commission communication of 3 March 2021 entitled ‘Union of Equality: Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030’ (COM(2021)0101), | – having regard to the Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, the upcoming EU Gender Equality Strategy for 2026-2030 and the EU Roadmap for Women’s Rights, |
Amendment 6
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities’ concluding observations on the combined second and third periodic reports of the European Union, published on 17 April 2025, |
Amendment 7
Motion for a resolution
Citation 20 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| – having regard to the European Disability Forum manifesto adopted during the fifth European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities on 23 May 2023, |
Amendment 8
Motion for a resolution
Recital C
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| C. whereas, as recognised in the Commission communication on the Union of Skills, persons with disabilities face persistent challenges in access to quality work and training, with existing programmes often falling short on adequately addressing their needs or ensuring accessibility; | C. whereas, as recognised in the Commission communication on the Union of Skills, persons with disabilities face persistent challenges in access to quality work and training, with existing programmes often falling short on adequately addressing their needs or ensuring accessibility; whereas disability sensitivity training for healthcare professionals could improve healthcare provision and reduce discrimination; whereas it is important to deliver on disability rights in practice, not just on paper; |
Amendment 9
Motion for a resolution
Recital D
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| D. whereas the employment rate of young persons with disabilities in the EU is particularly low, at only 47.4 %; whereas there is a 21.5 percentage point gap between the employment rates of young people with and without disabilities; | D. whereas persons with disabilities experience significantly higher rates of mental distress compared to persons without disabilities; whereas targeted, inclusive interventions, programmes and policies that facilitate access to timely mental health screenings, appropriate care and comprehensive support services, including inclusive education, supported employment and quality jobs, social inclusion, participation in sport and recreational activities, and protection against discrimination and violence, are essential to effectively reduce mental distress and promote overall well-being among persons with disabilities; |
Amendment 10
Motion for a resolution
Recital E
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| E. whereas 28.4 % of persons with disabilities live in or are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared to 18.4 % of persons without disabilities; | E. whereas 28.4 % of persons with disabilities live in or are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared to 18.4 % of persons without disabilities, especially in rural, insular and remote areas; whereas although persons with disabilities have higher needs for both preventive and curative medical care, they are at greater risk of poor health, unmet medical needs, a poorer self-reported health status and higher mortality than persons without disabilities; |
Amendment 11
Motion for a resolution
Recital E a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ea. whereas persons with disabilities are less likely to have access to preventive healthcare and screening programmes (e.g. for cancer or diabetes) due to physical or informational barriers or discrimination; whereas early and consistent access to therapies is crucial for development and autonomy, but in many Member States, persons with disabilities face a range of challenges in accessing healthcare, including financial, attitudinal, legal and physical barriers; whereas in several Member States, persons with lifelong disabilities lose access to rights and benefits upon reaching adulthood due to reassessment procedures, leading to unjust status downgrades and systemic gaps in support; |
Amendment 12
Motion for a resolution
Recital E b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Eb. whereas persons with non-visible disabilities, including neurodevelopmental and psychological disorders, are often excluded from eligibility criteria and support mechanisms due to a lack of visible impairments; |
Amendment 13
Motion for a resolution
Recital E c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ec. whereas in some of the Member States, women who have a recognised significant disability and who are victims of crimes for which they received financial compensation suffer from the fact that this compensation is factored into the calculation of their incomes, hindering their access to certain rights and, in particular, to healthcare; |
Amendment 14
Motion for a resolution
Recital E d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ed. whereas disabled athletes continue to face barriers in accessing facilities, funding and competitive opportunities, both in mainstream and dedicated settings; |
Amendment 15
Motion for a resolution
Recital E e (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ee. whereas an estimated 1.4 million persons with disabilities under the age of 65 are residing in segregated institutions; whereas 13 EU Member States report more persons with disabilities living in institutions now than they did 10 years ago; whereas a concrete roadmap towards fulfilling the seventh pillar of the EU Disability Strategy is needed; whereas such a roadmap should facilitate progress towards the deinstitutionalisation of persons with disabilities and a shift towards community-based living and support; |
Amendment 16
Motion for a resolution
Recital F
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| F. whereas women with disabilities constitute 29.2 % of the female population in the EU, and they face exclusion and discrimination in all areas of life, as well as high rates of violence against women and domestic violence; | F. whereas women with disabilities constitute 29.2 % of the female population in the EU; whereas women are disproportionately impacted by certain disabling conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, depression, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis; whereas women’s symptoms are often normalised or dismissed, leading to delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment; whereas they face exclusion and discrimination in all areas of life, as well as high rates of violence against women, including domestic violence and disability-specific forms of violence such as forced sterilisation, forced abortion and forced contraception; |
Amendment 17
Motion for a resolution
Recital F a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Fa. whereas women with disabilities are at significantly greater risk of experiencing sexual violence; whereas such violence leads to severe health consequences, psychological trauma and social and economic exclusion, and constitutes a grave violation of women’s rights; |
Amendment 18
Motion for a resolution
Recital F b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Fb. whereas persons with disabilities, including women and minors, often lack access to appropriate sexual and reproductive health information and care tailored to their age and needs; whereas this deprives them of autonomy and protection, and can expose them to a higher risk of abuse; |
Amendment 19
Motion for a resolution
Recital F c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Fc. whereas the UNCRPD and the Istanbul Convention1a, both ratified by the EU, affirm that persons with disabilities, including minors, have the right to bodily integrity and to make free and informed decisions about their reproductive health; whereas only nine EU Member States criminalise forced sterilisation as a distinct offence, while thirteen Member States still allow it in certain cases, including, in three of these Member States, cases involving minors, in clear violation of human rights standards; ______________ 1a The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention). |
Amendment 20
Motion for a resolution
Recital G a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ga. whereas environmental and climate-related health risks disproportionately impact persons with disabilities due to mobility limitations and limited access to safe housing and emergency response systems; whereas health inequalities stem from intersectional factors, including gender, ethnicity and socio-economic background, leading to greater barriers in accessing healthcare for persons with disabilities who belong to marginalised groups; whereas digitalisation in healthcare can facilitate access to quality healthcare for persons with disabilities; whereas e-health services must be designed in a way that enables persons with disabilities, including those with cognitive, visual, auditory and psychosocial impairments, to use healthcare services without barriers; |
Amendment 21
Motion for a resolution
Recital G b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Gb. whereas fragmented national reimbursement systems create major disparities in access to assistive technologies, and hinder the free movement of persons with disabilities across the EU; |
Amendment 22
Motion for a resolution
Recital G c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Gc. whereas the majority of assistive products and prototype equipment falls outside the scope of the Medical Device Regulation1a, creating legal uncertainty and safety risks; whereas a dedicated framework would bridge the regulatory gap without overburdening the production of low-risk aids; ______________ 1a Regulation (EU) 2017/745 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2017 on medical devices, amending Directive 2001/83/EC, Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 and Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 and repealing Council Directives 90/385/EEC and 93/42/EEC (OJ L 117, 5.5.2017, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/745/oj). |
Amendment 23
Motion for a resolution
Recital G d (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Gd. whereas in order to ensure that cross-border healthcare is truly accessible to persons with disabilities, a comprehensive review of Directive 2011/24/EU on patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare should be carried out to eliminate practical, financial and accessibility barriers; |
Amendment 24
Motion for a resolution
Recital G e (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| Ge. whereas everyone is entitled to be treated with dignity and to receive care appropriate to their specific circumstances; whereas chronic pain is the most prevalent health condition in Europe, affecting approximately 150 million people (representing about 20 % of the European population), and is a leading cause of disability; whereas it severely impacts quality of life, limits participation in work and education, and is linked to mental health issues; |
Amendment 25
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 1. Acknowledges that the strategy sets EU objectives and priorities for action in several policy areas including employment, education, non-discrimination and social protection; notes that the strategy addresses most of the shortcomings identified in the 2010-2020 European disability strategy; | 1. Acknowledges that the strategy sets EU objectives and priorities for action in several policy areas including employment, education, non-discrimination, public health and social protection; notes that the strategy addresses most of the shortcomings identified in the 2010-2020 European disability strategy; stresses, however, that there are significant challenges that should be addressed; |
Amendment 26
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 1a. Calls for an EU framework to ensure that the definition of ‘persons with disabilities’ is applied effectively by the Member States to conditions resulting from a diagnosed disease, guaranteeing equal rights, access to long-term healthcare services, geriatric care and social protection for those whose illness leads to a permanent or temporary disability, and preventing institutionalisation; stresses the importance of the recognition of all temporary and permanent disabilities; calls, therefore, on the Member States to streamline and expedite national disability recognition without any delays; |
Amendment 27
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 1 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 1b. Urges the Commission and the Member States to take the necessary steps to harmonise and expedite the recognition of severe neurological disorders and severe neurodivergent cases that encompass a wide range of conditions affecting the brain, nerves and spinal cord, such as autism and other spectrum disorders, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), dementia and chronic pain, ensuring access to social protection mechanisms, assistive technologies, personal assistance and palliative care, where appropriate and without administrative delays; calls on the Member States to ensure that persons with lifelong intellectual disabilities, such as Down Syndrome, retain the recognition of disability status and related rights upon reaching adulthood, avoiding unnecessary reassessments that lead to exclusion and emotional harm; |
Amendment 28
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 3
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 3. Underlines that across Europe, persons with disabilities still face considerable barriers when it comes to healthcare services, higher education and skills development, and having adequate standards of living; | 3. Underlines that across Europe, persons with disabilities still face considerable barriers when it comes to access to healthcare services and health screenings, higher education and skills development, accessible and adapted housing, and to having adequate standards of living, particularly for women and children with disabilities and persons with high support needs; |
Amendment 29
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 4
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 4. Underlines that, while employment leads to multiple positive outcomes for persons with disabilities, such as higher incomes, improved quality of life and an increase in social inclusion, participation in the open labour market remains a major challenge, and persons with disabilities therefore continue to face a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion; | 4. Underlines that, while employment leads to multiple positive outcomes for persons with disabilities, such as higher incomes, improved quality of life, independence and an increase in social inclusion, participation in the open labour market remains a major challenge, leaving persons with disabilities, especially women, at greater risk of poverty and social exclusion; emphasises that untreated mental health conditions, which often co-occur with chronic pain and other chronic illnesses that cause disabilities, may negatively impact individuals’ capacity to work and their well-being; considers that accessibility challenges put a constant strain on the mental health of persons with disabilities and their carers; underlines the urgent need to improve mental health support for persons with disabilities, who face much higher risks of depression, anxiety and social isolation, through the promotion of an integrated approach aiming to improve their quality of life and access to inclusive education and employment, the promotion of greater autonomy and inclusion, and access to sports infrastructure and programmes; considers that healthcare professionals and carers should be adequately remunerated, including the right to paid leave, free mental health services and a work-life balance; asks the Commission to assess the data collected by Eurostat on the mental health and well-being of persons with disabilities; |
Amendment 30
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 7
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 7. Considers that some of the policy areas covered in the strategy have received less attention, such as equal access to social protection, healthcare, transport, education, housing, and new skills and access to quality jobs; regrets that there were no flagship initiatives under the policy area of equal access and non-discrimination, and that the European disability and parking cards were the only legislative proposals put forward by the Commission; | 7. Considers that some of the policy areas covered in the strategy have received less attention, such as equal access to social protection, accessible and affordable healthcare, transport, education, housing, and new skills and access to quality jobs; regrets that there were no flagship initiatives under the policy area of equal access and non-discrimination, and that the European disability and parking cards were the only legislative proposals put forward by the Commission; calls on the Commission to address the gaps left by the EU Disability Card regarding freedom of movement, and to coordinate with the Member States on procedures for authorisation, reimbursement, access to disability allowances and accessibility of healthcare facilities and treatments across the EU; calls on the Commission to swiftly present the pending guidelines on improving access to healthcare for persons with disabilities; |
Amendment 31
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 8
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 8. Calls on the Commission to undertake a comprehensive mid-term evaluation of the strategy, including an impact assessment of the implemented flagship initiatives; | 8. Calls on the Commission to undertake a comprehensive mid-term evaluation of the strategy, including an impact assessment of the implemented flagship initiatives and targeted outreach; underlines the need to involve patient organisations and other relevant stakeholder groups in the entire evaluation process; stresses that persons with disabilities should be systematically included in the design, implementation and monitoring of any health strategies; |
Amendment 32
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 9
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 9. Stresses that, considering the persistent challenges persons with disabilities face, there are obvious gaps where more EU action is needed post-2024; calls on the Commission, therefore, to put forward an updated strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities for the period 2025-2030, including the actions described below; | 9. Stresses that, considering the persistent challenges persons with disabilities face, there are obvious gaps where more EU action is needed post-2024; calls on the Commission, therefore, to put forward an updated strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities for the period 2025-2030, which should include strong synergies with EU initiatives such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the upcoming EU Gender Equality Strategy for 2026-2030; calls on the Commission to fulfil its commitment under the 2021-2030 strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities to promote equitable access to healthcare for persons with disabilities; calls on the Commission to establish, without further delay, a dedicated task force on disability and health equity, and to monitor the implementation of inclusive health promotion and prevention initiatives as well as the dismantling of structural barriers in access to care; calls on the Commission to integrate disability-specific indicators into the European Cancer Inequalities Registry; calls for disaggregated data to be included in data collection on cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes for persons with disabilities, with a view to identifying and addressing persistent disparities in access to, and quality of, oncological care; considers that the European Health Data Space could play an important role in this data collection; calls for the full implementation and necessary revision of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, in order to further support the collective and shared response of the Member States to one of the top five causes of disability in most EU Member States; |
Amendment 33
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 10
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 10. Calls on the Commission, as part of the implementation of the strategy, to include the rights of persons with disabilities in the post-2027 multiannual financial framework regulation, where relevant, along with maintaining the horizontal enabling condition on the implementation of the UNCRPD; | 10. Calls on the Commission, as part of the implementation of the strategy, to include the rights of persons with disabilities in the post-2027 multiannual financial framework regulation, where relevant, in particular by maintaining funding for civil society organisations for persons with disabilities, including, but not limited to, grants under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme, and ensuring robust cohesion funding along with maintaining the horizontal enabling condition on the implementation of the UNCRPD; calls on the Commission to duly finance the implementation of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, as cancer is one of the leading causes of disability, and to develop and publish the European Cardiovascular Health Plan, as conditions such as diabetes significantly increase the risk of cardiovascular complications, thus leading to higher rates of disability; emphasises the need for a holistic EU strategy and dedicated EU funding to support the Member States with the transition from institutions to independent living and community-based services, which will focus on improved data collection on people living in institutions across the EU, providing training to support workers to offer more personalised support in line with the UNCRPD, strengthening the service-provision sector for persons with disabilities, and supporting families of persons with disabilities; |
Amendment 34
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12. Calls for the development of new technologies to ensure accessibility, and for the participation of persons with disabilities in all phases of design, development and implementation of technologies, in order to mitigate any risk of discrimination; | 12. Calls for the development of new technologies, including innovative medical devices, with a focus on AI where appropriate, to ensure accessibility, particularly of healthcare infrastructure and innovative and tailored treatments; urges the Commission to develop a joint mechanism for mutual certification for assistive technologies that provides harmonised safety, quality and post-market requirements for products not covered by the Medical Device Regulation; calls for investment in data-driven policies and for research and innovation to be fostered; recalls that persons with disabilities have more complex needs as regards medicines and often require orphan medicines, which significantly improve their quality of life; calls on the Commission and the Member States to put forward an EU strategy ensuring equal access to orphan medicines and innovative treatments across the EU; calls for the participation of persons with disabilities in all phases of research, design, development and implementation of technologies, in order to mitigate any risk of discrimination; highlights the significant under-representation of persons with disabilities in clinical research, which perpetuates health inequities and undermines scientific accuracy; calls on the Commission to include clear frameworks that promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities in clinical research in the next revision of the Clinical Trials Regulation1a; ______________ 1a Regulation (EU) No 536/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on clinical trials on medicinal products for human use, and repealing Directive 2001/20/EC (OJ L 158, 27.5.2014, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/536/oj). |
Amendment 35
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12a. Recognises the importance of early detection and coordinated prenatal and postnatal care, including medical and social support, and highlights the need to reinforce the EU4Health programme as access to diagnosis is a key part of the programme; calls on the Member States and the Commission to strengthen and harmonise newborn screening programmes to ensure early detection and timely intervention for rare diseases and conditions that may lead to lifelong disabilities; calls on the Commission to collect and publish integrated and disaggregated data on families with dependent children with disabilities, including variables such as household composition, per capita income, officially recognised degree of disability and publicly supported dependency-related expenditure, in order to be able to develop more targeted support measures; calls, furthermore, on the Commission to promote national frameworks that guarantee free and timely access to essential therapies for children and young adults with disabilities, including speech therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy; |
Amendment 36
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 b (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12b. Stresses that insufficient support for persons with disabilities, their families and caregivers can lead to significant adverse consequences; underlines the wide disparities, between Member States, in the recognition of informal carers and their rights; calls on the Commission and the Member States to address the specific needs of caregivers and family members by developing integrated health and social prescribing care systems, ensuring inclusive access to community-based services, peer-led initiatives and psychological support for all persons involved in the provision of care to persons with disabilities; invites the Commission to propose a statute on informal carers, guaranteeing the recognition of a minimum level of rights at EU level; |
Amendment 37
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 12 c (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 12c. Calls on the Commission to assess and review Directive 2011/24/EU on patients’ mobility and Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems1a in order to establish the reimbursement of disability-related additional costs and accessibility in situations of cross-border healthcare; ______________ 1a Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems (OJ L 166, 30.4.2004, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/883/oj). |
Amendment 38
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 14
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 14. Highlights the need to revise existing EU legislation on the accessibility of transport infrastructure and vehicles such as trains, buses, planes and boats; | 14. Highlights the need to revise existing EU legislation on the accessibility of digital and banking services, transport infrastructure and vehicles such as trains, buses, planes and boats, including as regards medical transport; calls on the Member States to ensure that all national health screening and prevention programmes are fully accessible and inclusive; calls on the Commission to ensure that e-health services, including mobile health devices and services, are fully accessible and safe to use for persons with disabilities, their family members, personal assistants and healthcare professionals; stresses the importance of ensuring that digitalisation, including in banking interfaces, does not reduce accessibility for persons with disabilities, including blind and visually impaired persons, and calls for clear EU guidelines on inclusive design and alternative access modes for essential services; |
Amendment 39
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 16
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 16. Recognises that persons with disabilities encounter obstacles in accessing education and employment, and calls for the Union of Skills to enable greater investment in inclusive education, adaptations and accessibility in digital and vocational training, as well as to provide support in the transition to employment through adapted training and reasonable accommodation in the workplace; | 16. Recognises that persons with disabilities encounter obstacles in accessing education, training, healthcare, housing and employment, and calls for the Union of Skills to enable greater investment in public healthcare services, digital health literacy, inclusive education, adaptations and accessibility in digital and vocational training, as well as to provide support for digital health literacy and in the transition to employment through adapted training and reasonable accommodation in the workplace, including workplace adjustments and return-to-work programmes for persons with disabilities resulting from an illness or (chronic) disease; stresses the need for mental health support in educational, training and work-related environments, given its crucial role in enabling long-term engagement and success; highlights the need to strengthen efforts in the Member States through the sharing of best practices and other complementary actions to improve access to work and education, reducing barriers and prejudice in education and training by promoting continuous awareness of intellectual disabilities and learning difficulties, and measures to enhance alternative learning methods, especially for children on the autism spectrum, including children with ADHD; calls on the Member States to guarantee inclusive access to education at all levels for persons with disabilities, including through the provision of specialised support staff, tailored curricula and more accessible digital platforms; |
Amendment 40
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 20
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 20. Recalls the essential role of the ESF+ in supporting actions for persons with disabilities and insists that the ESF+ should be maintained as the main instrument for social cohesion; notes, however, that there is no special earmarking to address the needs of persons with disabilities under the ESF+; underlines that the Member States must use this fund in compliance with the UNCRPD; | 20. Recalls the essential role of the ESF+ in supporting actions for persons with disabilities and insists that the ESF+ should be maintained as the main instrument for social cohesion; notes, however, that there is no special earmarking to address the needs of persons with disabilities under the ESF+; underlines that the Member States must use this fund in compliance with the UNCRPD; recognises the accessibility challenges faced by persons with disabilities and their families, especially in rural and remote regions, and therefore calls for better coordination between the ESF+ and the European Regional Development Fund in order to improve access for persons with disabilities to healthcare services and long-term care in underserved regions, especially rural and remote areas; urges a more efficient use of the ESF+ to support investment in long-term care services for persons with disabilities, provide training for caregivers, and advance the implementation of the European Care Strategy; |
Amendment 41
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21. Considers that access to quality affordable and accessible housing represents a challenge in the EU, in particular for persons with disabilities, and calls, therefore, for support for housing including by using existing support for renovation, and for the establishment of a fund within the framework of EU cohesion policy to support accessible and disability-inclusive social housing; | 21. Considers that access to quality affordable and accessible housing represents a challenge in the EU, in particular for persons with disabilities, and calls, therefore, for support for housing including by using existing support for renovation, and for the establishment of a fund within the framework of EU cohesion policy to support accessible and disability-inclusive social housing and infrastructure; recalls that inclusive, autonomous and healthy housing is a core preventive measure to safeguard healthy ageing for persons with disabilities and calls on the Commission to take into account the needs of persons with disabilities in its housing policies, including adaptations for individuals recovering from intensive medical treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy; |
Amendment 42
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 21 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 21a. Underlines the need for a holistic EU strategy to support the transition from institutional care to independent living solutions and community-based services for persons with disabilities, including persons with autism spectrum disorder, strengthening supported housing, personal assistance, autonomous mobility, and training for support workers to provide personalised care, and offering support to the families and carers of persons with disabilities; |
Amendment 43
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 22
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 22. Recognises the challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities and notes that women with disabilities face higher rates of violence against women and domestic violence; | 22. Recognises the challenges faced by women and girls with disabilities and notes that women with disabilities face higher rates of violence against women and domestic violence, including cases of forced sterilisation; calls on the Commission to take a strong stance and encourage the Member States to adopt measures without undue delay to criminalise forced sterilisation, with no exception based on disability or legal capacity, to ensure equal access to sexual and reproductive rights, healthcare and justice, to propose adequate criminal sanctions, and compensation for victims, and to encourage all EU Member States to ratify the Istanbul Convention; calls on the Commission to urgently assess whether forced or undesired sterilisation is sufficiently criminalised in the Member States, with a view to ending this practice in line with Treaty obligations relating to non-discrimination; |
Amendment 44
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 24
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 24. Calls on the Commission to address, at EU level, the barriers to accessing healthcare for women in all their diversity, including barriers faced by women and girls with disabilities; | 24. Calls on the Commission to address in a holistic way, at EU level, the barriers to accessing healthcare including, but not limited to, sexual and reproductive healthcare, in particular for women and girls in all their diversity, the elderly population, and persons with disabilities living in rural, isolated or sparsely populated areas, especially those with rare diseases and other diseases such as cancer that often lead to disabilities; recalls that barriers to accessing healthcare facilities are discriminatory and profoundly hinder access to medical care for persons with disabilities; calls for more uniform enforcement of the European Accessibility Act1a; ______________ 1a Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 70, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/882/oj). |
Amendment 45
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 25
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 25. Calls on the Commission to strengthen its efforts to address discrimination faced by women with disabilities, who continue to face high unemployment rates and lower pay; | 25. Calls on the Commission to strengthen its efforts to address discrimination faced by women with disabilities, who continue to face high unemployment rates and lower pay, and to provide financial and practical support for women with disabilities in the workplace, including the option of extended maternity leave and in-home assistance from healthcare professionals; recalls the need to ensure protection for persons facing financial hardship due to disease treatment, including access to sick leave, disability pensions and medical leave entitlement; calls for complementary EU actions with a view to enhancing social care services and community-based health services and introducing programmes for home-based care and personal assistance, affording persons with disabilities greater autonomy and the necessary support to enable them to work from home; |
Amendment 46
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 27 a (new)
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 27a. Welcomes the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the EU Global Health Strategy; calls on the Commission to ensure that the EU preparedness union strategy fully addresses the needs of persons with disabilities and that emergency responses uphold their dignity, autonomy and safety, including through the distribution of accessible alerts and communications, including advanced mobile location and total conversation for all emergency numbers, mobility accommodations, and training emergency personnel to respectfully and effectively assist persons with a range of disabilities; |
Amendment 47
Motion for a resolution
Paragraph 28
| Motion for a resolution | Amendment |
| 28. Considers it necessary to include persons with disabilities in EU-funded humanitarian aid to ensure that there is an inclusive, accessible and effective approach; | 28. Asks the Commission to strengthen the 2021-2030 strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities to ensure that the needs of persons with disabilities, including access to basic healthcare services, are addressed with an inclusive, targeted, accessible and effective approach in external action, including EU-funded humanitarian aid, in accordance with humanitarian principles; |
ANNEX: DECLARATION OF INPUT
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he included in his opinion input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that he received, in the preparation of the opinion, prior to the adoption thereof in committee, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| European Disability Forum |
| European Cancer Organisation |
| 2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies |
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur for opinion.
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur for opinion declares that he has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.
INFORMATION ON ADOPTION BY THE COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
| Date adopted | 16.7.2025 | |
| Result of final vote | +: –: 0: | 29 2 9 |
| Members present for the final vote | Christine Anderson, Vytenis Povilas Andriukaitis, Bartosz Arłukowicz, Stine Bosse, Marie-Luce Brasier-Clain, Laurent Castillo, Olivier Chastel, Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová, Christophe Clergeau, Margarita de la Pisa Carrión, Ondřej Dostál, Viktória Ferenc, Emmanouil Fragkos, Nicolás González Casares, Michalis Hadjipantela, Gerald Hauser, Martin Häusling, Adam Jarubas, Romana Jerković, András Tivadar Kulja, Peter Liese, Ignazio Roberto Marino, Catarina Martins, Tilly Metz, Elena Nevado del Campo, Michele Picaro, Jessica Polfjärd, Ruggero Razza, Oliver Schenk, Tomislav Sokol, Dario Tamburrano, Vlad Vasile-Voiculescu, Tiemo Wölken | |
| Substitutes present for the final vote | Giorgos Georgiou, Billy Kelleher, Aldo Patriciello, Marta Temido, Ingeborg Ter Laak, Aurelijus Veryga, Kristian Vigenin | |
| Members under Rule 216(7) present for the final vote | Maria Guzenina |