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EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities post-2024

TA-10-2025-0308 · P10_TA(2025)0308 · PE773.058

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Parliament's resolution on the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities post-2024 calls for an updated strategy for 2025-2030 with new flagship initiatives, binding measures, and concrete actions to address persistent gaps. It demands action on accessibility, employment, independent living, deinstitutionalisation, and equal rights, including a common EU definition of disability and ratification of the UNCRPD Optional Protocol. The resolution also stresses the need to combat discrimination and violence against women with disabilities, ensure political participation, and include disability rights in EU external action.

Key points

  1. Calls on the Commission to put forward an updated strategy for 2025-2030 without delay, with new flagship initiatives and concrete actions, and to place greater emphasis on fighting discrimination and hate speech.
  2. Calls for a common EU-wide definition of 'disability' in line with the UNCRPD and for concrete binding measures, including legal instruments, to ensure uniform protection of disability rights.
  3. Urges the Commission to undertake a mid-term evaluation of the strategy, including a review of all EU legislation for compatibility with the UNCRPD, and to establish mechanisms for consultation with disability organisations.
  4. Calls for the inclusion of clear and measurable targets and indicators in the updated strategy, and for dedicated EU funding, rather than relying solely on national voluntary measures.
  5. Demands that the European Accessibility Act be fully implemented and strengthened, with its scope extended to cover all relevant goods and services, and that accessibility legislation be enforced with sanctions for non-compliance.
  6. Calls for the creation of a permanent regulatory agency for accessibility (strengthening AccessibleEU) and for legislation to ensure a single market for assistive devices, including mutual certification.
  7. Urges the Commission and Member States to ensure accessible healthcare communication, including sign language interpreters, and to strengthen newborn screening and early intervention services.
  8. Calls for the removal of discriminatory legal provisions that prevent persons with disabilities from voting, and for legislative initiatives to ensure equal political participation.
  9. Calls for an EU-funded employment and skills guarantee for persons with disabilities, without age restrictions, and for support to transition from sheltered workshops to open labour market employment.
  10. Urges the Commission to present an EU action plan on deinstitutionalisation and to ensure that EU funding supports independent living and community-based services.
  11. Calls for the criminalisation of forced sterilisation of persons with disabilities and for measures to address violence against women with disabilities, including ratification of the Istanbul Convention.
  12. Calls for the EU to support candidate countries in aligning with EU accessibility standards and to mainstream disability rights in external action, including humanitarian aid.

Who is affected

  • Persons with disabilities in the EU, including women, children, and those with invisible disabilities, who would benefit from improved accessibility, employment support, and legal protections.
  • Employers and companies, which would face enforceable workplace quotas for recruiting persons with disabilities and mandatory training on disability inclusion.
  • Member States, which are called on to remove discriminatory legal provisions, ratify the UNCRPD Optional Protocol, and implement measures for deinstitutionalisation and accessible housing.
  • EU institutions, which must ensure accessibility of information and interactions, including sign language interpretation in plenary debates.
  • Informal carers and families of persons with disabilities, who would receive support through respite care, training, and recognition of their role.

Figures and deadlines

  • 27 % of the EU's population over 16 had some form of disability in 2023, amounting to 101 million people.
  • Only 51,3 % of active, working-age persons with disabilities in the EU are in paid employment, compared to 75,6 % of persons without disabilities.
  • In 2023, 28,84 % of persons with disabilities lived in or were at risk of poverty or social exclusion, compared to 18,04 % of persons without disabilities.
  • An estimated 1,4 million children and adults with disabilities under 65 reside in segregated institutions.
  • Women with disabilities are two to five times more likely to experience violence than women without disabilities.
  • Only 20 % of women with disabilities in the EU work full time, compared to 48 % of women without disabilities.
  • Persons with autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions face one of the highest rates of unemployment in Europe, standing at 90 %.