Future of the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Post-2025

Background


This EESC own-initiative opinion covers the future direction of the EU Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities for the period 2025–2030. With the current strategy at its halfway point, the EESC calls for renewed ambition, binding measures, and meaningful consultation with persons with disabilities and their representative organisations. The opinion builds on the findings of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the manifesto adopted at the 5th European Parliament of Persons with Disabilities.

 

Key points

The EESC:

  • Welcomes the European Commission’s commitment to present new actions for the second half of the EU Disability Strategy 2021-2030 and highlights the importance of the recent UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities' review of the EU, urging continued efforts beyond the strategy’s midpoint;
  • Recognises key successes from 2021–2025 but also notes remaining gaps. In this opinion, it outlines priority actions and flagship initiatives for the 2025–2030 period;
  • Urges the Commission to quickly develop its next action plan with meaningful consultation of persons with disabilities and their organisations;
  • Calls for stronger, more binding measures than those from 2021–2025, with direct impact and dedicated funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework to ensure effective implementation and support.

Key proposed actions

  • Develop an alternative to the Horizontal Equal Treatment Directive
  • Build on the Disability Employment Package
  • Address gaps in the EU Disability Card and freedom of movement
  • Expand efforts on accessibility beyond the AccessibleEU Centre
  • Protect women and girls with disabilities
  • Tackle the housing crisis for persons with disabilities
  • Create a joint mechanism for assistive technology certification
  • Resolve obstacles to travel faced by persons with disabilities
  • Promote deinstitutionalisation
  • Prevent AI-based discrimination

Additional information


EESC section: Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)
Opinion type: Own-initiative opinion
Rapporteur: Ioannis VARDAKASTANIS
Reference: SOC/830-EESC
Date of adoption by section: 22/5/2025
Contact:
Valeria Atzori, Administrator
Email: soc@eesc.europa.eu