The BDF endorses the EDF’s position: Update of EU Disability Rights Strategy lacks ambition
The BDF endorses the EDF’s position: Update of EU Disability Rights Strategy lacks ambition
The Belgian Disability Forum (BDF) joins the criticism of the European Disability Forum (EDF) regarding "The enhancing of the EU Disability Rights Strategy up to 2030". Although the European Commission has announced several interesting initiatives concerning independent living, access to work, justice and assistive technology, the BDF finds the strategy not concrete enough. Important EDF proposals, such as a European agency for accessibility and guarantees for employment and assistive technology, have not been included.
The BDF advocates for stronger measures and more resources to effectively realize the rights of persons with disabilities.
The Belgian Disability Forum (BDF) takes note of the European Union’s commitments
On 6 May, the European Commission published "Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030".
The Commission wishes to develop various initiatives:
- Accessibility and technologies
- Assistive technology and AI: A project to facilitate the transition "from lab to market", so that assistive technology and AI become more affordable and accessible.
- Transport: Improving accessibility across all modes of transport (e.g. train heights, safe road infrastructure, regulations for assistance dogs on aircraft).
- Digital: Action plan for digital accessibility (2026-2030) covering all Commission services.
- Rights and mobility within the EU
- European Disability Card: Introduction of the card (physical and digital) into the ‘digital wallet’ of all eligible residents by 2030.
- Democratic participation: Action for “inclusive democracies” to make it easier for people with disabilities to vote and stand for election in the 2029 European elections.
- Employment, education and independent living
- Independent living: Establishment of a EU Alliance for Independent Living to promote community-based services rather than institutionalisation.
- Employment: Strengthening the Disability Employment Package to reduce the employment gap (24% by 2024), with a focus on AI in the workplace and the employment of women.
- Education: Initiative for lifelong learning, including accessible higher education (2027) and pre-school education.
- Justice and security
- Access to justice: Facilitating participation in remote hearings and better protection for victims of violence.
- Crisis management: The ‘Ready for anything, ready for everyone’ initiative aims to train first responders (999 operators) in the specific needs of people with disabilities.
- External action (Ukraine)
- Reconstruction: ‘Nothing about us without us’ initiative to ensure that Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction is fully accessible.
