The European Parliament has approved its priorities for updating the EU’s strategy on the rights of persons with disabilities beyond 2024. The report was adopted with 409 votes in favor, nine against, and 109 abstentions.
MEPs are calling for a more ambitious and effective strategy for 2025-2030 that would include concrete measures and legal tools to address ongoing challenges faced by people with disabilities in Europe. These challenges include difficulties in accessing employment, social protection, education, healthcare, housing, and digital services.
To improve job prospects for people with disabilities, MEPs propose an EU-funded employment and skills guarantee as well as better access to training and education. They also urge the European Commission to introduce an EU-wide definition of “disability” to ensure equal rights across member states. According to the report, there should be clear sanctions when public or private authorities do not meet accessibility obligations.
The report highlights specific needs of women and girls with disabilities. It stresses tackling discrimination they face and improving their access to healthcare, participation in society, and protection from abuse or exclusion. Other recommendations include enhancing accessibility in sports, transport, products, and digital technologies.
Existing initiatives such as AccessibleEU, the European Accessibility Act, and the Web Accessibility Directive are acknowledged positively by MEPs; however, they emphasize these tools need further strengthening and implementation.
Rosa Estaràs Ferragut (EPP, Spain), rapporteur for the file stated: “Today’s vote marks a decisive moment to ensure that persons with disabilities can exercise their rights in the EU in full. We must turn political intention into tangible action in all member states, guaranteeing dignity, accessibility, and equal opportunities for all. No one should be left behind in Europe. This is about people. It is about ensuring that persons with disabilities can live independently, access opportunities, and participate fully in society. Today marks a decisive moment to transform our commitment into real change.”
The current EU disability rights strategy was launched by the European Commission in March 2021 for 2021-2030. It includes initiatives like AccessibleEU, the European Disability Card and Disability Platform that were introduced before 2024; Parliament’s new proposals aim to shape additional actions for the second half of this decade.
