COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030
Date: 2026-05-06
Institutions: Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers, European Commission
Subjects: EU strategy, European social policy, UN convention, care of people with disabilities, discrimination based on disability, equal treatment, independence of people with disabilities, integration of people with disabilities, social integration

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 6.5.2026  COM(2026) 541 final  COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030 {SWD(2026) 773 final}  
 
 
INTRODUCTION 

Around 90 million people in the EU live with a disability (1). The wide diversity of 
situations experienced by persons with disabilities make them a heterogeneous 
group with differing needs. They are united by one simple fact: they have the same 
human rights as everyone else. Disability arises from the interaction between 
impairments and attitudinal or environmental barriers that hinder their full and 
effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. Disability can be 
present at birth or arise later in life, including as a result of ageing. As such, disability 
affects societies as a whole: at different points in life, many people will experience 
circumstances in which barriers hamper their full participation in society. Disability 
and the rights of persons with disabilities concern us all. 

Together with other EU equality strategies, the strategy for the rights of persons with 
disabilities 2021-2030 (‘the strategy’) contributes to creating a Union of Equality, to 
fight discrimination and improve the lives of persons with disabilities in the EU and 
beyond. The strategy provides a framework for: (I) implementing EU rights and 
action; (II) removing barriers to empower persons with disabilities to live 
independently and participate in society and the economy on an equal basis with 
others; (III) engaging with stakeholders and delivering results. 

These aims are in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons 
with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and the European Pillar of Social Rights. They also 
respond to the objectives of the Competitiveness Compass, valorising the 
contribution of persons with disabilities to the economy and society as an asset to a 
more competitive EU (2). 

Halfway through the strategy’s implementation, the EU now needs to step up 
action, ensure renewed engagement across all sectors in a mainstreaming 
approach, and recommit to the strategy’s core objectives of supporting self-
determination, autonomy and participation. While the overall objectives set in the 
strategy have not changed, reinforced action is needed to reach them by 2030. The 
consultations carried out ahead of this Communication, the positions taken by other 
EU institutions (3) and the concluding observations addressed to the EU by the 
relevant UN Committee in 2025 as well as an assessment of progress (4) contribute 
to identify the areas where further efforts are needed. 

(1)  Aged 16 or over, in 2024. Source: Eurostat’s estimation using EU-SILC 2024 microdata. The 

global activity limitation indicator (GALI) is used as the main variable to measure disability at EU 
level.  

(2)  Based on Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Combatting Discrimination 
in the European Union, gross domestic product (GDP) losses as a result of disability-related 
discrimination are estimated at between 0.84 and 1.42 billion (EUR, 2022 price levels). 
(3)  The European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Council. 
(4)  Mid-term report on the implementation of the Union of Equality Strategy for the Rights of Persons 

with Disabilities 2021-2030, accompanying this Communication. 

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The Commission is therefore strengthening the strategy in order to guide the EU and 
its Member States in their joint engagement to enhance disability inclusion up to 
2030. 

The planned actions include flagship initiatives that will allow efforts to be centred 
around key topics. Stepping up cooperation with Member States, including through 
the use of EU funds, is part of this renewed commitment. 

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I.  TURNING RIGHTS INTO REALITY 

1.  Accessibility – an enabler of rights, autonomy and equality 

Accessibility is crucial to enable persons with disabilities to fully participate in all 
areas of life. Persons with disabilities continue to face barriers in the built 
environment, transport, access to services and information and communication, 
including digital spaces.  

Digital accessibility and assistive technologies 

Effective implementation of key legislation on accessibility, including through the 
support of AccessibleEU, will remain a key focus up to 2030. The Commission will 
monitor implementation and application of the European Accessibility Act, including 
through expert groups and committees, and follow up on the standardisation request 
M587 and technical specifications regarding accessibility requirements for products 
and services. Accessibility aspects are also considered in the evaluation of the 
Audiovisual Media Services Directive. Monitoring will continue of the application of 
relevant legislation such as the Web Accessibility Directive and the European 
Electronic Communications Code, pending its proposed revision. The Commission 
will support efforts to make internet platforms and digital services more accessible, 
including through the codes of conduct under the Digital Services Act.  

To maintain its role as a world leader on accessibility, notably in the digital realm, the 
EU needs to constantly adapt to new challenges. This concerns in particular the 
use of Artificial Intelligence (AI), which has great potential to support persons with 
disabilities though requires cautious approaches in view of any discriminatory 
effects (5). Emphasis on accessibility and protecting fundamental rights will be key to 
establish a joint approach to deploying AI in the single market. The Commission 
will issue and follow up on guidelines for the implementation of the Artificial 
Intelligence (AI) Act e.g. on the prohibited AI practice that exploit the vulnerability of a 
person in a significantly harmful manner due, amongst other reasons, to disability as 
well as on the classification of high-risk AI systems. 

 AI developments are particularly relevant in the area of assistive technology, 
which is key to ensure autonomy and quality of life, and becomes increasingly critical 
with ageing.  From a business perspective, this sector presents challenges related to 
market entry and access to finance, likely to impact availability and affordability for 
users. 

(5)  2021 UN Special Rapporteur Report: Artificial intelligence and the rights of persons with 

disabilities. 

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FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE – Assistive technologies and AI: from lab to market 

The Commission will seek to promote better knowledge and strengthen the single 
market for assistive technologies and AI applications. The aim is to identify and 
remove bottlenecks that prevent persons with disabilities from benefiting from 
accessible and affordable technologies. The initiative includes: (i) an EU-level 
dialogue with assistive technology operators, involving users and public 
administrations, showcasing relevant EU business support initiatives such as the 
Enterprise Europe Network and identifying funding opportunities to facilitate ‘from lab 
to market’ transitions; and (ii) a study to assess obstacles to accessing assistive 
technologies and AI for persons with disabilities and provide suggestions to address 
them.  

Safe and accessible products and services 

Persons with disabilities face difficulties as consumers, due to inaccessible 
interfaces and functionalities and to a lack of accessible labelling and product 
information. Furthermore, barriers in accessing essential services such as transport, 
due for instance to inaccessible vehicles and stations and to lack of real-time 
accessible information, limit their opportunities to be independent and engage with 
their communities. 

The Commission will promote accessible labelling in key sectors (6). The 
implementation of the General Product Safety Regulation and of the revised 
legislation on Alternative Dispute Resolution will help enhance accessibility and the 
safety of consumers with disabilities. Protecting consumers in vulnerable 
situations is an overarching priority of the 2030 Consumer Agenda, including in the 
digital environment. The Commission will coordinate the work of national consumer 
protection authorities and the European Consumer Centres Network, seeking to 
ensure that consumer vulnerabilities are not exploited and that the rights of persons 
with disabilities as consumers are respected under EU law. 

According to a UN High Commissioner for Human Rights report on disability-
inclusive infrastructure, transport and housing, persons with disabilities can face up 
to 15 times greater restrictions in participation and mobility compared to others. 
This highlights the need to step up action to improve accessibility, affordability and 
availability of transport systems for persons with disabilities, challenges which are 
particularly acute in rural and remote areas. 

(6)  Such as energy, food and cosmetics. In the area of energy labelling, documents generated by the 
European product registry for energy labelling (EPREL) will be made more accessible as of 2026.  

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FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE – Better access to transport for persons with disabilities 

The Commission will promote accessibility across various means of transport. The 
initiative includes the following deliverables: (i) in rail transport: establishing 
common EU priorities and criteria for railway accessibility requirements by revising 
the technical specifications for interoperability relating to persons with reduced 
mobility. In this context, the EU Agency for Railways will issue recommendations for 
the revision of the technical specifications e.g. to improve the train to platform step, 
to facilitate unassisted boarding and improve accessibility of night trains; (ii) in road 
transport: upgrading the sustainable urban mobility planning reference material on 
vulnerable groups and publishing guidance on road infrastructure safety features for 
vulnerable users. In addition, the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Regulation and its 
forthcoming review will seek to integrate the European technical standards on 
accessibility of electric road vehicles charging stations; (iii) in waterborne transport: 
reviewing accessibility provisions as part of the evaluation of the Directive on safety 
rules and standards for passenger ships; and (iv) in air transport: engaging with 
aviation stakeholders and disseminating good practices among operators to enhance 
the air travel experience for persons with disabilities e.g. through dialogues 
concerning the handling and carriage of assistance dogs and mobility aids.  

The Commission will also look into ways of improving participation of persons with 
disabilities in standardisation processes and making standards more accessible 
and inclusive in the review of the Standardisation Regulation. Furthermore, the 
revised Public Procurement Directive is expected to restate the obligation to buy 
accessible goods and services.  

The Commission calls on the EU Member States to: 

•  support improvement and implementation of accessibility in standards and 

technical specifications, including in public procurement; 

•  provide training on accessibility to relevant professionals in the areas of 
construction, transport, public procurement services and information and 
communication technologies. 

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2.  Enjoying EU rights 

Facilitating mobility within the EU 

EU citizens, including persons with disabilities, enjoy all the benefits of EU 
citizenship, such as the right to move freely and to live anywhere in the EU. The 
transposition and implementation of the European disability and parking cards for 
persons with disabilities(7), supported by the dedicated expert group, will be 
instrumental to enhance the mobility and inclusion of persons with disabilities, 
including third country nationals legally residing in a Member State, within the EU. 
However, administrative barriers remain, including in terms of access to disability 
benefits when moving from one Member State to another. In this respect, differences 
in how Member States define and assess disability point to the need to exchange 
information to promote a common understanding. The Commission will therefore 
encourage mutual learning on disability assessment methods among the 
Member States.  

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE – European disability and parking cards in your (digital) 
wallet 

This initiative aims to ensure the cards become a reality in the EU, meaning all EU 
residents with disabilities should have them in their (digital) wallets. This will 
require: (i) QR codes for the physical versions of the cards, features to ensure 
security of the cards and prevent fraud, and interoperability requirements for 
readability across the Member States; (ii) accessible digital versions of the cards and 
related interoperability arrangements; (iii) communication efforts to raise awareness 
of the benefits of the cards; and (iv) assessment of remaining gaps related to the 
free movement of persons with disabilities. 

Fostering participation in democratic processes 

Persons with disabilities should be able to participate in political processes, 
including elections, on an equal basis with others. The difficulties they face in 
exercising their democratic rights include obtaining accessible paper ballots and 
election-related information, accessing e-government services, contesting elections 
and running for office. 

(7) Extended, by way of Directive (EU) 2024/2842 of the European Parliament and of the Council, to 

third-country nationals legally residing in a Member State. 

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FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE – Inclusive democracies across the EU 

The Commission will work with Member States in the framework of the European 
Cooperation Network on Elections towards the following deliverables: (i) updating 
the Guide of good electoral practices in Member States addressing the participation 
of citizens with disabilities in the electoral process; (ii) promoting common references 
and standards for inclusive elections via the repository provided for in the European 
Democracy Shield; and (iii) sharing good practices within the European Cooperation 
Network on Elections on disability-relevant elements of the Commission 
Recommendation on inclusive and resilient electoral processes and the Commission 
report on 2024 elections to the European Parliament. 

The Commission will continue its efforts including by working with stakeholders and 
through communication actions to promote the rights of persons with disabilities to 
vote and run for office in the 2029 European elections.  

The Commission calls on the EU Member States to: 

•  promote participation of persons with disabilities in democratic processes, both 

as voters and candidates in elections, including by providing electoral 
communication and information in accessible formats and ensuring voting 
materials, procedures and facilities are accessible. 

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II.  EMPOWERMENT AND INCLUSION 

3.  Decent quality of life and living independently 

Developing independent living and reinforcing community-based services 

The EU has promoted deinstitutionalisation through policy and funding for more than 
a decade, including through the Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the 
community for persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding. However, based 
on a recent estimation by Eurofound, in the 10 years up to 2022-2023 the number of 
children, adults with disabilities and older people in residential institutions have 
increased in the EU over this timespan, standing at 1.4 million (8). Accessibility 
issues, a lack of adequate community-based services and legal capacity restrictions 
are among the reasons persons with disabilities are held back from living 
independently. 

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE – EU alliance for independent living 

The Commission will encourage Member States and stakeholders to exchange 
information, promote data collection and dissemination and raise awareness of 
factors that contribute or hinder the deinstitutionalisation process. The initiative will 
include: (i) setting up an alliance of policymakers and stakeholders to facilitate the 
creation of national and local centres for independent living, leveraging on EU 
funding; (ii) monitoring the deinstitutionalisation process in Member States and 
providing a cost-benefit analysis; and (iii) conducting an independent living 
implementation dialogue. 

The Commission will also encourage innovative solutions for independent living 
through EU funding, in particular through Horizon Europe and the cohesion policy 
funds and policy programmes, as well as their successors under the multi-annual 
financial framework after 2027. 

The Commission will promote accessible community-based support for persons 
with disabilities including under the European Social Fund+ and the European 
Regional Development Fund. In the area of social services, the Commission will 
present the framework for social services of excellence for persons with 
disabilities announced under the strategy, ensuring synergies with the update of the 
Social Protection Committee EU voluntary quality framework for social services. 

(8)  Paths towards independent living and social inclusion in Europe | Eurofound. 

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Improving access to sustainable quality jobs 

Improving inclusion in the labour market represents a significant opportunity to better 
harness the skills, talents and experiences of persons with disabilities, contributing to 
a more inclusive and competitive EU economy. However, only half of persons with 
disabilities in the EU participate in the labour market (56.4% in 20249), with the 
disability employment gap reaching 24 percentage points in 2024 (23.1pps in 
2021)(10). Barriers to labour market participation include accessibility issues, failure to 
implement reasonable accommodation (11), social benefit traps and the persistence of 
stereotypes.  

More efforts are needed to combat discrimination and ensure that reasonable 
accommodation is provided at the workplace, in line with the EU legal 
requirement enshrined in the Employment Equality Directive. Young persons with 
disabilities struggle in their transition into adulthood due to a lack of adequate 
pathways between education and employment, hampering their contribution to 
the labour market and to economic growth. Emerging workplace challenges, such 
as the impact of the use of AI on workers and applicants with disabilities, are a cause 
of concern, as is intersectional discrimination, for instance against women with 
disabilities. At the same time, digital tools and AI also present meaningful 
accessibility opportunities for workers with disabilities. There is a need to further 
foster the social economy, a key driver to promote labour market access for 
persons with disabilities, as highlighted in the Council recommendation on social 
economy framework conditions. Working conditions and labour rights in sheltered 
employment also continue to be a matter of concern. 

(9)  European Commission, Employment and social developments in Europe 2025 
(10)  Source: Eurostat. The disability employment gap is a headline indicator in the Social Scoreboard, 

the main monitoring tool for the European Pillar of Social Rights implementation, including in the 
context of the European semester.  

(11)  Reasonable accommodation is any change to a job role or work environment that is needed to 

enable an employee with a disability to perform the job. 

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Improve implementation of the Disability Employment Package 

The Commission will work for better access to the labour market for persons with 
disabilities building on the Disability Employment Package and with the involvement 
of social partners. The follow-up will include: (i) sharing best practices and issuing 
further guidance, e.g. on AI and assistive technologies at the work place, transition 
from education to employment, employment of women with disabilities; (ii) assessing 
the extent to which reasonable accommodation is provided at the workplace, in line 
with the Employment Equality Directive (12); and (iii) publishing, together with the 
OECD, a cost-benefit analysis of boosting employment of persons with disabilities. 
Moreover, the Commission will consult European social partners on the possible 
direction of EU action to support the activation of persons excluded from the labour 
market. 

The Commission will work with the Council’s Social Protection and Employment 
Committees on the setting of national targets for the employment of persons 
with disabilities. The Commission will also promote the inclusion of persons with 
disabilities at the workplace through within the EU Platform of Diversity Charters. In 
relation to working conditions, the Commission will seek to consider the 
occupational safety and health risks faced by workers with disabilities in the 
forthcoming Quality Jobs Act proposal, following the first stage social partners 
consultation and pending the second stage consultation.  

Ensuring adequate social protection 

The risk of poverty and social exclusion has remained persistently high among 
persons with disabilities (28.8% versus 17.9% of persons without disabilities in 
2024) (13), a strong predictor of poorer quality of life. The rising cost of living in recent 
years has made households of persons with disabilities even more vulnerable. 

Building on the study on the social protection for people with disabilities in Europe, 
the Commission will carry out analytical work and collect data to quantify the extra 
cost of living with a disability and encourage discussions among Member States, 
including in the Disability Platform, on how disability is identified and addressed in 
different social protection systems.  

Affordable and accessible housing  

Persons with disabilities are at a higher risk of housing problems and energy 
poverty than the rest of the population, due to insufficient accessibility and lower 
household income. They also have greater energy needs, due in particular to critical 

(12)   Including based on Eurofound work on the role of the social partners in the implementation of 

reasonable accommodation at the workplace. 

(13)  Source: Eurostat. 

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dependence on electricity for medical equipment, mobility and assistive devices 
and technologies (14). Housing and energy policies should therefore integrate the 
needs of persons with disabilities to allow them a decent quality of life, in line with 
the objectives of ensuring a fair and clean energy transition and of fighting housing 
exclusion (15). 

The Commission will consider accessibility aspects in its assessment of national 
building renovation plans under the Directive on energy performance of buildings 
and will identify and disseminate good practices.  

In addition, it will issue a specific report that will cast light on the housing 
conditions of persons with disabilities across the EU. Lastly, the Commission will 
support a comprehensive framework for reforms, investments and interventions 
in the areas of sustainable, accessible, social and affordable housing and built 
environment, in conjunction with the New European Bauhaus, the European 
Affordable Housing Plan, the Citizens Energy Package and the anti-poverty strategy, 
considering the direct and indirect impact on persons with disabilities and reflecting 
accessibility obligations. 

The Commission calls on the EU Member States to: 

•  establish national targets to promote independent living, focussing in particular on 
developing accessible and affordable housing and community-based services, 
including personal assistance, centres for independent living, peer support and 
other types of individualised support, such as supported decision-making, 
respecting individuals’ will; 

•  adopt measures to achieve higher employment rates for persons with disabilities 
in the open labour market, including setting national employment targets and 
ensuring reasonable accommodation and rehabilitation; 

•  modernise social protection through reforms to tackle coverage and adequacy 
gaps for persons with disabilities, including by compensating the extra costs 
related to living with a disability, developing person-centred funding and tackling 
disincentives to work. 

4.  Equal access and non-discrimination  

Inclusive education at all levels 

Learners with disabilities continue to face obstacles to accessing mainstream 
education. In 2024, 44% of people aged 18 to 24 in the EU who had a severe 

(14)  Breaking the cycle: addressing energy poverty among people with disabilities in Europe. 
(15)  Proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion. 

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disability left education or training early (16). Accessibility issues and a lack of 
adequate support and necessary adaptations prevent children with disabilities 
from fully participating in mainstream schooling. More focused disability policies 
based on the pathways to school success initiative and on the roadmap for ensuring 
school success for all could help identify barriers to achieving fully inclusive 
education and training systems and how to best remedy them. In line with the 
Council Recommendation on human capital in the EU, special attention to vulnerable 
groups including persons with disabilities can also contribute to the horizontal 
objective of strengthening basic skills at all stages of education across the EU. 

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE – Disability-inclusive lifelong learning 

The Commission will further support Member States in fostering accessible and 
inclusive education at all levels, through a life-cycle approach. The initiative will 
include: (i) guidance for curriculum and pedagogical development in early childhood 
education and care to support the acquisition of basic skills early on and to 
encourage detection of developmental delays and related interventions; (ii) guidance 
for policymakers, as part of the 2026 Education Package, addressing, amongst 
other, the needs of vulnerable groups at school, including pupils with disabilities; (iii) 
a policy initiative in 2027 to improve accessibility of higher education to a wider 
range of learners, including students with disabilities, and promote support services 
for students’ wellbeing; (iv) a report in 2028 on enhancing inclusive education, with a 
focus on students with disabilities and special educational needs and the provision of 
reasonable accommodation; and (v) prioritisation of mutual learning on disability-
inclusive education in the context of the European Education Area strategic 
framework in cooperation with the European Agency for Special Needs and Inclusive 
Education. 

EU funds and in particular, cohesion policy funds and the Erasmus+ programme 
will continue to support inclusive and accessible education (formal, non-formal and 
informal), including to increase the rate of participation in learning mobility among 
persons with disabilities. The strengthened European Child Guarantee provides a 
framework for national reforms and investments to support children at risk, including 
children with disabilities, through high-quality inclusive education.  

As part of the forthcoming 2030 Roadmap on the future of digital education and 
skills, the Commission will strive to ensure that all pupils can benefit from the digital 
transformation in schools. To do so, the Commission will support Member States in 
developing shared digital infrastructure for education in line with EU values. This will 
include ethical and equality-sensitive use of AI and the deployment of safe European 
education technologies that can cater for the diverse accessibility needs of pupils. 

(16)  Source: Eurostat. The share of early leavers among young people with some disability was 

17.1%, as compared to 8.0% for people without a disability. 

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Improving access to healthcare 

Health policies should be designed and implemented with the needs of persons with 
disabilities in mind. In this respect, the Guidelines on access to healthcare for 
persons with disabilities will foster a shared understanding of challenges in access 
to healthcare for persons with disabilities and encourage good practices likely to 
drive changes at national level. 

 Many individuals with cancer, rare diseases, or chronic conditions also experience 
disabilities. Different partnership initiatives and research projects focus on rare 
diseases, and the revised Pharma Package will help make orphan drugs against 
rare diseases more accessible. Moreover, the revision of the Medical Device and In 
Vitro Diagnostics Regulations, together with the proposal on the Biotech Act, will also 
foster research and innovation in the field of rare diseases. Various joint actions 
under the EU4Health Programme seek to: increase awareness of human rights-
based approaches in dealing with mental health issues, in line with the 
Commission’s comprehensive approach to mental health; address dementia in a 
holistic way; tackle inequalities in cancer prevention, detection and care (17).  A study 
launched by the Commission on the quality of life of cancer patients and 
survivors will develop indicators to assess policies implemented across EU 
countries to monitor and improve quality of life, likely to encompass policies relevant 
for disabilities acquired following to cancer. 

Disability at the intersection: boosting voice and choice 

Women, older and younger persons with disabilities as well as children, LGBTIQ+ 
people and people from racial or ethnic minorities with disabilities experience 
intersecting forms of discrimination and are at a higher risk of exclusion and 
inequality in many areas(18).The needs of women and girls with disabilities will be 
carefully considered in the implementation of the gender equality strategy 2026-
2030, in particular in relation to supporting Member States in improving access to 
physical and mental healthcare and sexual and reproductive health and rights. 
In this respect, an initiative in cooperation with the World Health Organisation will 
explore ways to improve the quality and accessibility of women’s healthcare, 
including for those with disabilities. Moreover, the Commission will launch a study 
on violence against women with disabilities in the EU. The Commission will pay 

(17)  For instance, the Joint Action EUCanScreen contributes to improving access to cancer screening 
for persons with intellectual disabilities, including through a feasibility study on acceptance of HPV 
(human papillomavirus) self-sampling among long-term screening non-attenders with a mild to 
moderate intellectual disability. 

(18) Considering an intersectional approach, discrimination against persons with disabilities may 

overlap with other forms of discrimination based on other personal characteristics or identities. 
These include gender, age, religion or belief, sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, 
racial or ethnic origin. Intersectionality leads to specific inequalities and unique experiences of 
discrimination. 

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close attention to the needs of persons with disabilities in the implementation of the 
relevant strategies, such as the LGBTIQ+ and anti-racism strategies 2026-2030. 

Ensuring equal access to justice, legal protection and safety   

To give persons with disabilities equal access to justice it is essential to remove 
practical and legal barriers, linked for instance to accessibility or legal capacity, 
and to ensure reasonable accommodation. In this context, access to justice 
encompasses being able to participate in judicial proceedings as well as contributing 
to the justice system in a professional role. Protecting persons with disabilities, 
especially those in vulnerable situations, from violence, hatred, exploitation and 
abuse, both online and offline, remains a priority. 

Victims with disabilities will be further protected and supported through the revised 
Victims’ Rights Directive, which includes new provisions on procedural 
accommodation, and through the upcoming EU strategy on victims’ rights. 

 Victims of gender-based violence will be supported under the Directive on 
combating violence against women and domestic violence, which includes specific 
provisions and protection for women and girls with disabilities. The Commission will 
also facilitate the development of guidelines on procedural accommodation for all 
victims with disabilities. 

The Justice Programme promotes judicial training on the UNCRPD and disability 
in line with the priorities of the judicial training strategy. In the context of the 
European Investigation Order Directive review, the Commission will seek to enable 
remote participation in criminal court hearings, including of persons with disabilities, 
from another Member State via accessible videoconference technology, ensuring the 
necessary procedural safeguards. The Commission will also increase the frequency 
of reporting on disability issues in the EU Justice Scoreboard. 

The Commission will support Member States’ implementation of the upcoming 
Regulation on cross-border protection of vulnerable adults, promoting 
application in full compliance with the UNCRPD. The Commission also will 
publish a study on decision-making regimes and legal capacity legislation in the 
Member States, showcasing supported decision-making approaches to 
encourage self-determination of persons with intellectual, mental and psycho-social 
disabilities. 

Moreover, the Commission will consider legislation based on the existing areas of 
crime covered by Article 83(1) of TFEU to harmonise the definition of hate 
offences committed online, and possibly include public incitement to violence or 
hatred online on grounds not currently covered by EU law, such as disability. 
Disability will also be mainstreamed in the forthcoming action plan on the protection 
of children against crime and strategy on combating trafficking in human beings, as 
well as in the pact on asylum and migration. 

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Preparedness and emergency management 

Persons with disabilities are disproportionally affected by disasters and 
experience increased vulnerability during an emergency. In such situations, many 
have limited access to early warnings and alerts, to suitable transport and to the 
medical equipment they or their caretakers need. In addition, first responders are not 
always trained and equipped to meet their specific needs.  

The Commission will seek to make the EU safer and more resilient to threats by 
enhancing its ability to anticipate, prevent, prepare for and manage crises. To 
achieve this, it will promote a stronger and more inclusive culture of 
preparedness in line with the Preparedness Union Strategy, and making use of the 
Union Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM). 

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE – Prepared for anything, prepared for everyone 

The Commission will seek to make preparedness and crisis management more 
disability inclusive. The initiative will include: (i) gaps analysis and stakeholder 
mapping of the situation of persons with disabilities in terms of disaster response and 
preparedness; (ii) guidelines for first responders, including emergency number 
112 (19) operators, and for persons with disabilities and their carers on how to act in 
an emergency; (iii) training curricula for first responders on how to recognise a type 
of disability and determine the appropriate course of action; and (iv) awarding a civil 
protection medal (20)at the Civil Protection Forum for ‘extraordinary contribution to the 
UCPM in the field of disability inclusion’ in 2026. 

Participation in cultural life, sport, travel and leisure 

Strong inequalities in access to and participation in culture affect persons with 
disabilities, as artists, cultural workers and audiences. For persons with 
disabilities participating in cultural and sport events, travel and leisure is often difficult 
because venues and services are not accessible, as well as due to persisting 
stereotypes and additional costs. This hampers their personal development and 
prevents their inclusion in society. The Culture Compass for Europe has identified 
barriers linked to disability as one of the factors that affect participation in culture, 
calling for inclusive cultural policies, sustained investment and inclusive and 
accessible design of cultural infrastructure and programmes. 

By 2028 the Commission will draw up a report to support Member States in 
increasing the participation of persons with disabilities in culture. Organisations 
representing persons with disabilities will be consulted on the forthcoming EU 
Artists Charter. The Commission will also support, through the DiscoverEU 

(19)  The emergency number 112 is set to be fully accessible across the EU, as per European 

Accessibility Act. 

(20)  Based on Article 20(a) of the Union Civil Protection Mechanism Decision. 

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Inclusion Action, young people with fewer opportunities, including young persons 
with disabilities. The Commission will further promote inclusion and accessibility in 
sport, including through the #BeActive EU Sport Awards “Inclusion” category and the 
European Week of Sports campaign. 

The Commission calls on the EU Member States to: 

•  promote the inclusion of children, adolescents and young persons with disabilities 
in mainstream education, by removing barriers in the school environment, making 
available accessible and adapted learning materials and adopting individualised 
teaching approaches; 
improve access to healthcare, including through training of professionals based 
on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities orientations and 
removing administrative and practical barriers; 

• 

•  strengthen capacity-building in the justice sector in line with the UN Convention 
on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities requirements and ensure that victims 
with disabilities have access to justice and appropriate protection measures, 
including accessible complaint and redress mechanisms; 

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III.  ENGAGING AND DELIVERING 

5.  Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities globally  

External action 

Over one billion people, or 16% of the world’s population, have a form of 
disability (21), and this is set to increase due to the global ageing trend. Conflict-
related injuries and the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases also have 
an impact on disability incidence across the world. 

Further to the commitments undertaken at the 2025 Global Disability Summit, 
disability will be high on the agenda of EU’s high-level policy dialogues with third 
countries. This will include sharing relevant EU initiatives as good practices in 
implementing the UNCRPD and promoting its ratification and implementation around 
the world, as well as promoting the EU guidelines on non-discrimination in external 
action. The Commission will also continue to cooperate with the UNCRPD 
Committee including by supporting membership of EU experts in the Committee. 
The planned review of the EU action plan on human rights and democracy 2020-
2027 will place a stronger emphasis on disability.  

The Commission will enhance disability inclusion  in global gateway investments 
and promote accessibility in infrastructure programmes, including in post-conflict 
reconstruction and recovery. The Commission will seek to ensure that EU-funded 
external action does not contribute to institutionalisation of persons with disabilities 
and fosters, instead, human-rights based transition to family and community-based 
support and independent living, 

Reporting will continue on disability mainstreaming and targeted actions, using the 
OECD Development Assistance Committee disability marker to track disability-
inclusive funded operations.  

Humanitarian aid 

The vulnerability and marginalisation of persons with disabilities is exacerbated 
in humanitarian crises. Persons with disabilities are more likely to be excluded 
from both preparedness and crisis response measures, and their needs are not 
sufficiently taken into account in how aid is designed and delivered. Building on the 
evaluation of the operational guidance on the inclusion of persons with disabilities in 
EU-funded humanitarian aid operations, the Commission will strengthen disability 
inclusion in all EU-funded humanitarian operations and support partners and 
staff in this respect. The commitment to disability inclusion will also be reaffirmed 
through the upcoming Communication on EU humanitarian action in a shifting 

(21)  2022 data. Source: Global report on health equity for persons with disabilities. 

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global order, to ensure that persons with disabilities are meaningfully engaged and 
their needs duly considered in humanitarian diplomacy initiatives and promote 
inclusive humanitarian action in the current global context. 

EU enlargement 

Candidate and potential candidate countries for EU accession need to gradually 
align their legislation with the EU acquis and relevant international and European 
standards in the field of fundamental rights and non-discrimination, in line with the 
“fundamentals first” approach of the EU revised enlargement methodology, as well 
as in the area of accessibility and inclusion. The Commission will support partner 
countries and assess their progress in the alignment and effective implementation 
of relevant policies, including through the annual Enlargement Package. 

Attention to the needs of persons with disabilities must be particularly prominent in 
relation to Ukraine, where the prevalence of acquired disabilities is likely to have 
expanded as a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression. 

FLAGSHIP INITIATIVE – ‘Nothing about us without us’ in Ukraine’s 
reconstruction 

The Commission will support disability-inclusive rebuilding efforts in Ukraine. The 
initiative will include: (i) a high-level event focusing on accessibility as part of one 
of the Ukraine reconstruction conferences in 2027; (ii) involvement of disability 
organisations in participatory processes for the design and implementation of New 
European Bauhaus projects related to the reconstruction of Ukraine; and (iii) 
leveraging EU funding for accessibility in reconstruction.  

In addition, candidate and potential candidate countries will be involved in the work 
of the Disability Platform as well as in other relevant actions under the enhanced 
strategy.  

The Commission calls on the EU Member States to: 

•  ensure that international development programmes at country level pursue the 
aim of disability inclusion, in line with the commitments of the 2025 Global 
Disability Summit, and that financial support does not perpetuate 
institutionalisation; 

•  seek to make humanitarian aid operations inclusive and accessible, to allow 

persons with disabilities meaningful access to and full and effective participation 
in humanitarian action. 

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6.  Efficiently delivering the strategy  

Building on the creation of the Disability Platform, a consistent co-production 
approach and increased cooperation with the Member States will be key to 
ensure effective policy outcomes on the ground. Further disability mainstreaming 
across all policy areas and in all EU institutions and bodies will also be crucial to 
achieve comprehensive results. 

The Commission will upscale the Disability Platform by strengthening the 
exchange of information on national developments. The Platform will support 
Member States to identify challenges and remedial action in preparing and 
implementing disability plans and strategies feeding into their national and regional 
partnership plans under the multiannual financial framework after 2027 (pending 
adoption). Mutual learning sessions on key topics, such as legal capacity, disability 
assessment and labour mobility of persons with disabilities will allow to share 
promising practices. 

The Commission will continue to promote involvement of the disability 
community in policymaking at all levels in line with the EU strategy for civil society, 
which states that inclusivity and accessibility are guiding principles of a dialogue with 
civil society. The Commission proposes to support organisations working for 
disability inclusion under the Agora EU programme under the 2028-2034 multiannual 
financial framework (pending adoption).  

Furthermore, the Commission will work for increased disability mainstreaming in 
all EU institutions, bodies, offices and agencies, with action across EU agencies, 
focusing on raising awareness, and in the context of its better regulation 
methodology. A proposal to reform the existing EU UNCRPD monitoring framework 
will be put forward by 2028, building on relevant analytical work, with a view to 
improving monitoring.  

The Commission calls on the EU Member States to: 

•  share good practices from their disability plans and strategies and exchange 

information on national developments via the Disability Platform.  

7.  Leading by example 

The Commission is committed to promote inclusion and diversity, not only in its 
capacity as employer but also vis-à-vis citizens and stakeholders, in line with the EU 
institutions’ engagement to implement the UNCRPD. Building on the Commission 
HR strategy, the Commission will continue to promote the inclusion of staff with 
disabilities. 

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The Commission will seek to further promote the participation of persons with 
disabilities in the Blue Book traineeship programme in the context of the 
upcoming revision of the decision on the Blue Book traineeship. This will 
complement the already existing provisions on disability allowance and reasonable 
accommodation.  

The European Personnel Selection Office (EPSO) will strengthen the accessibility 
of its communication and selection procedures, ensuring equal opportunities for 
candidates with disabilities, including through its reasonable accommodation 
policy. EPSO will further enhance its targeted outreach through cooperation with 
EU disability and diversity organisations to attract a more diverse pool of 
candidates. 

The Commission will strengthen its outreach to staff with disabilities and carers. It will 
continue to streamline coordination between services providing support to 
staff. It will update its diversity and inclusion action plan building on the findings of a 
survey conducted in 2025. It will further develop initiatives to raise awareness, 
deliver training to staff and managers, fight unconscious biases and improve digital 
and physical accessibility as well as reasonable accommodation. The 
Commission will also regularly engage with staff associations to further foster 
inclusion at the workplace. 

Moreover, the Commission will implement its anti-harassment policy paying 
particular attention to vulnerable groups, including staff with disabilities as well as 
staff members with care responsibilities for family members with disabilities. The 
needs of staff with disabilities will also be carefully considered in the planned review 
of the EU Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme. 

Furthermore, the Commission will present a digital accessibility action plan (2026-
2030) covering its entire digital ecosystem. It will also continue to implement the 
infrastructure and buildings equality work plan (2021-2030), increasing 
awareness of physical accessibility among staff and relevant professionals. The 
Commission will aim at making meetings and events held in Commission conference 
rooms more accessible across all EU languages and deploy AI-based multilingual 
services. 

8.  Awareness-raising, monitoring and measuring progress  

Raising awareness and disseminating good practices 

Promoting disability awareness and combating stereotypes are fundamental 
complements to legislation and policymaking. The Commission will continue to 
engage with the disability community through the European Day of Persons with 
Disabilities and to promote accessibility best practices through the Access City 
Award, developing a new community of practice among cities. It will also continue 
to celebrate and support local authorities championing inclusiveness through 

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the European Capitals of Inclusion and Diversity Award. In addition, the Commission 
will run a Union of Equality campaign, which will also cover disability. 

Collecting data, monitoring and measuring progress 

Statistics are a necessary tool for evaluating policy outcomes and designing 
evidence-based disability policies. The Commission will progressively step up data 
collection and publish data for new indicators on the situation of persons with 
disabilities for various aspects of life through the dedicated EU statistical online 
gateway, and will strive to enhance data collection disaggregated by type of 
disability, while minimising the administrative burden. Moreover, it will issue a 
recommendation on equality data and organise a high-level roundtable 
to further promote their collection and use, building on the work of the equality data 
expert group of the High-Level Group on non-discrimination, equality and diversity.  

The Commission will also publish a new Eurobarometer on discrimination in the 
EU in 2027. In addition, it will take further steps to promote data collection on 
persons with disabilities living in institutions and associated costs. The 
Commission will use the Disability Platform to discuss progress and strengthen 
accountability, monitoring national developments, supported by the forthcoming 
Union of Equality reporting and the strategy monitoring framework. Lastly, the 
Commission will seek to ensure that the use of EU funds is monitored against the 
policy orientations outlined in the strategy and in this Communication. 

The Commission calls on the EU Member States to: 

• 

raise awareness and combat stereotypes of persons with disabilities, including in 
the portrayal of disability in the media; 

•  ensure availability of data disaggregated by disability, including in institutions. 

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CONCLUSION 

The strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 remains the EU’s 
main policy framework for achieving a Union of Equality for persons with 
disabilities. This enhanced strategy will strengthen the Commission’s commitment 
to design and implement sound disability policies jointly with the Member States and 
relevant stakeholders as well as with candidate and potential candidate countries for 
EU accession.  

Promoting disability rights and inclusion will pave the way for stronger democracies 
and more competitive economies and will confirm the EU’s role as a trustworthy 
key player in the global arena, reflecting its commitment to upholding human 
rights. 

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