Enhancing the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030

90 million people in the EU live with a disability. Disability can be a condition at birth or be developed later in life, in particular in old age. This means that anyone can experience disability at some point in life. Persons with disabilities have the same human rights as everyone else, in line with the United Nations Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities, to which the EU and all EU countries are party. Disability inclusion is a driver of competitiveness, resilience and democratic strength. 

Enhancing the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030

On 6 May 2026, the European Commission adopted the Communication “Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030” as announced in the Commission Work Programme.

Halfway through the 2021-2030 Strategy for the Rights of persons with disabilities, progress has been made, but barriers persist across the EU, limiting full participation of persons with disabilities in society and the economy on equal basis with others.

That is why the EU is enhancing the Strategy, stepping up its ambition, with a stronger focus on implementation, delivery on the ground and real impact for people’s lives.

Communication “Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030 

Easy to read version: Communication “Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030 

Key actions

Turning rights into reality

We will ensure that rights guaranteed at EU level translate into concrete, everyday improvements for persons with disabilities across the EU, through:

• Full rollout and digitalisation of the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities
• Accessible and affordable assistive technologies and AI, identifying and seeking to remove market barriers for developers and users
• Better access to transport for persons with disabilities across the EU, including in rail, maritime and air transport.
• Inclusive democracies and more accessible elections, including for the 2029 European elections

Equal access. Equal rights

Our aim is that persons with disabilities can fully participate in society, living independently, and having equal access to quality jobs, through:

• EU Alliance for independent living to support deinstitutionalisation and promote self-determination
• Improve implementation of the Disability Employment Package for further work opportunities and more inclusive labour markets
• Inclusive education across different stages of life
• Improve access to justice and healthcare, with particular attention to the needs of women and girls with disabilities
• Inclusive emergency guidelines and disability-trained responders for preparedness

Delivering across our borders

We will reinforce EU’s role as a global leader on disability rights, promoting disability inclusion in our external action and partnership:

• Accessibility and participatory approach in Ukraine’s reconstruction
• Disability inclusion in Global Gateway investments and external action
• Stronger inclusion in humanitarian aid and enlargement

Leading by example

The EU works to do what it preaches. Inclusion should start within our own institutions.

• Encourage participation of persons with disabilities in the Blue book traineeship programme
• More inclusive workplaces and digital environment

Factsheet 

Consultation process

The Enhanced Strategy builds on consultations with Member States, civil society, EU institutions and the United Nations.

Synopsis Report - Enhancing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030 

Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030

In March 2021, the European Commission adopted the Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030.

You can access here to the easy-to-read version.

The Strategy contains 8 priority areas covering all aspects of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD), to enhance equality in all aspects of everyday life: 

• Accessibility: an enabler of rights, autonomy and equality.
• Enjoying EU rights: free movement, participation in the democratic process.
• Decent quality of life and living independently: independent living, skills, employment, social protection.
• Equal access and non-discrimination: access to justice, combating discrimination, education, health, recreation activities, safety.
• Promoting the rights of persons with disabilities globally
• Efficiently delivering the Strategy: mainstreaming, UNCRPD compliance of policymaking, EU funding.
• Leading by example as public administration: Human Resource strategy, accessibility of Commission buildings, communication.
• Awareness, governance and measuring progress.

Flagship initiatives achieved and progress reported

The Strategy featured 7 flagship initiatives:

1. AccessibleEU: a European resource centre to increase coherence in accessibility policies and facilitate access to relevant knowledge for an effective implementation and further development of EU law (2022)
2. European Disability Card and European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilitiesto be recognised in all Member States and to facilitate free movement (2024)
3. Guidance recommending to Member States improvements on independent living and inclusion in the community(2023).
4. A framework for social services of excellence for persons with disabilities - in progress
5. Disability Employment Package, initiatives to bring and maintain persons with disabilities in quality and sustainable jobs e.g. guidelines, toolkits and a catalogue of positive actions (2022).
6. Disability Platform: a reinforced governance mechanism bringing together representatives from Member States, civil society and the Commission (2021).
7. Renewed Human Resources strategy for the European Commission, including actions to promote diversity and inclusion of persons with disabilities. (2023)

Mid-term report on the implementation of the Union of Equality Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030

Delivering the Strategy: working closely together with EU countries

The Commission will support Member States in shaping their national strategies and action plans to further implement the UNCRPD and the EU legislation in the field.

The European Commission calls on Member States to contribute to this new and reinforced Strategy as the framework for EU actions and for the implementation of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.