Towards a more inclusive Europe.

On the occasion of the European Day of Persons with Disabilities, the European Commission and the European Parliament held a two-day conference at the end of November to discuss the strategic goals and initiatives for the next five years. This year's debates on raising awareness of the everyday challenges faced by persons with disabilities were of particular interest to policy makers especially because the European Commission is set to bring its new policy priorities to life in the coming months, including promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities. The debates were complemented by the themed week on the rights of persons with disabilities, which took place for the second time in the European Parliament at the beginning of December. The topics discussed were diverse – from employment and artificial intelligence to the accessibility of funding programmes such as Erasmus+. There was a unanimous call for further action to make Europe more inclusive for all its citizens.

Employment in the open labour market

One topic that has often been mentioned is the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the labour market. In 2022, the European Commission launched a package to improve the labour market opportunities of persons with disabilities. Many of the measures mentioned such as those aimed at retaining and adapting jobs have already been implemented. However, an initiative for labour market integration is still pending.

The European Parliament has also taken a closer look at the rights of persons with disabilities. The European Parliament's Committee on Petitions (PETI) has commissioned an analysis of the "Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030". The authors emphasised that the European Commission’s mere presentation of all the proposed initiatives from the package would not be enough. Their implementation in the Member States should also be closely monitored and reviewed. MEPs also spoke out in favour of empowering persons with disabilities. It is important to ensure that the EU strategy is in line with the needs of persons with disabilities. This must be continuously monitored by the European Commission.

Council signals willingness to support

In addition to the European Parliament and the European Commission, the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) also dedicated part of its last meeting to the inclusion of persons with disabilities. At the centre was the adoption of the Council conclusions on supporting the social inclusion of persons with disabilities through employment, appropriate provisions and rehabilitation. Member States are called upon to take measures that support social inclusion, promote employment in the open labour market and improve rehabilitation services, among other things. Spain, in particular, urged focusing on inclusion rather than integration. The focus should not be on individual disabilities, but on structural changes in the system that help to eliminate unequal treatment.

The future of the strategy for persons with disabilities

At the beginning of December, the European disability organisations also strongly voiced that the European Commission must do more. On the one hand, they welcomed the fact that all the initiatives and measures announced in the EU strategy are close to being finalised. On the other, they criticised the lack of vision in the EU strategy for the next five years and voiced their concerns. In the absence of a Commissioner exclusively entrusted with the equality portfolio, the organisations fear that the EU's commitment to persons with disabilities could falter in the coming years.

There is an urgent need for clarity about the future of the EU strategy. Although the second von der Leyen Commission has only just begun its work, Hadja Lahbib, the Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, should act as quickly as possible. Clear-cut measures are just as relevant in this endeavour as reviewing the goals that have been set. This is the only way the European Commission can ensure that inclusion continues to be promoted in the EU.