Towards a more inclusive Europe: rights, budgets, crises and accessibility at the heart of the debates

On 4 and 5 December 2025, the European Day of Persons with Disabilities brought together European institutions, Member States and representative organisations in Brussels. The BDF also took part. Halfway through the European strategy 2021-2030, discussions show that the gap between the original ambitions and the daily reality for persons with disabilities is widening, especially in the current context of crises, budgetary considerations and less room for social dialogue.

Introductory speech: confirming priorities, reminding us of the urgency

From the outset, Ms Hadja Lahbib, European Commissioner for Equality, reminded us that the European Union today has almost 100 million people with disabilities. They too often remain invisible and, in her view, need to be "seen, heard and valued". The Commissioner emphasised the importance of a cross-cutting approach, integrating disability into all European policies, including crisis management. Accessibility should not be an option, but an obligation that is respected by Member States and supported by appropriate budgets.

The President of the European Disability Forum (EDF), Mr Ioannis Vardakastanis, was more severe in his speech: the European Union can no longer be satisfied with declarations of intent when nearly 100 million people with disabilities still face structural discrimination. He criticised the lack of sufficient guarantees in the budget proposals for the period after 2027, in particular the questioning of the minimum share of social funds for inclusion and the fact that the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is conspicuously absent from the conditions for the allocation of EU funds. The EDF sees these choices as a worrying political step backwards.

The 2nd European Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The first panel emphasised the urgency of strengthening the second phase of the European Strategy with more stringent measures. The speakers recalled that persons with disabilities still face disproportionate levels of poverty, exclusion and unemployment. Deinstitutionalisation, inclusive education and access to employment remain major challenges. The effective participation of persons with disabilities in the joint development of policy measures is an essential lever for credibility and effectiveness.

The new European Social Fund budget

Many organisations have expressed their concerns. They fear that the removal of specific guarantees for social inclusion and disability will weaken the Union's ability to support persons with disabilities, particularly in Member States that invest little in these policies. Analyses in various countries have shown that even projects financed by European funds can still lead to violations of fundamental rights, particularly in the areas of housing, education and independent living.

Preparedness and crisis management

The third thematic panel came to an irrefutable conclusion: in crisis situations, inclusion is a matter of survival. The testimony of Mr Ruslan Topchan, a Ukrainian veteran who lost both legs, served as a reminder that shelters, warning systems and evacuation procedures are still largely inaccessible to persons with disabilities. The European Commission has proposed several initiatives to make emergency management more inclusive: improving the accessibility of shelters, adapting the 112 emergency number, diversifying communication channels and training frontline workers. During the discussions, the importance of a participatory approach was emphasised, whereby persons with disabilities are not only seen as a target audience, but are also involved as actors in crisis preparedness and response.

Access City Award: European cities as leaders in accessibility

The Access City Award 2026 was presented to Zaragoza (1st prize), Valencia (2nd prize) and Rennes (3rd prize), as well as to Piacenza and Salzburg for their efforts in the field of inclusion in all areas. These cities demonstrate how accessibility, when integrated in a cross-cutting manner, improves everyone's quality of life and strengthens social cohesion.

When will we see a Belgian city among the winners?

The members of the BDF will meet in January 2026 and will present the main concerns for Belgium to the Commissioner and the EDF.