The European Union is pursuing an increasingly ambitious policy to strengthen the rights of people with disabilities and ensure their equal participation in society. At the heart of this is the European Disability Rights Strategy 2021–2030, which provides guidance to Member States on removing barriers for people with disabilities in all areas of their daily lives.
A key component of this is the Employment Package for People with Disabilities, which focuses on inclusive HR policies, better support for employers and high-quality employment opportunities for people with disabilities.
Another key initiative within this strategy is the continued roll-out of the European Disability Card (EDC), which simplifies the recognition of a disability across borders and facilitates participation in society.
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a directive that requires a number of essential products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities.
The EU Web Accessibility Directive requires public sector bodies in Europe to make their websites and mobile applications accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.
The growth of artificial intelligence (AI) brings with it new opportunities and risks. The EU is working on rules to ensure that AI is inclusive, transparent and non-discriminatory. The EDF emphasises that technology should remove barriers, not create them.
The European Day of Persons with Disabilities is an annual conference organised by the European Commission in collaboration with the European Disability Forum (EDF) to share progress, bring together policymakers and organisations representing people with disabilities, and discuss further steps towards a more inclusive Europe.
