The 2025 EU in the World Report highlights the European Disability Forum’s (EDF) efforts to ensure that disability rights are fully integrated into the European Union’s (EU) external action activities. The report outlines key advancements, challenges, and advocacy priorities over the past year.
Key highlights
International Cooperation
- Advancing a Disability Action Plan for EU External Action: EDF advocated for the European Commission (EC) to introduce a dedicated Disability Action Plan within its global activities.
- Influencing EU Human Rights Dialogues with Partner Countries: EDF submitted targeted inputs ahead of EU human rights dialogues with partner countries, helping ensure disability rights and the participation of organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs) are systematically addressed.
- Tracking Disability Inclusion in EU Development Aid: EDF published its fourth report analysing disability inclusion in EU Official Development Assistance (ODA). The findings highlighted that 63% of EC aid activities do not significantly include persons with disabilities.
- Strengthening Capacity within EU External Action: EDF delivered the first in-person training on disability inclusion for EU external action staff from the European External Action Service (EEAS).
- Advancing EU Commitments at the Global Disability Summit: Following sustained advocacy by EDF, the EC participated in the Global Disability Summit 2025 and announced commitments to strengthen disability inclusion across EU external action.
Humanitarian Action & Disaster Risk Reduction
- Advocating for Disability-Inclusive Humanitarian Response in Ukraine: EDF supported its member, the National Assembly of People with Disabilities of Ukraine, in engaging with EU leadership to ensure persons with disabilities are actively included in humanitarian response and recovery planning.
- Influencing EU Humanitarian Policy Frameworks: EDF provided detailed recommendations to the European Commission’s Communication on Humanitarian Aid, proposing concrete measures to ensure persons with disabilities are recognised as leaders and partners in humanitarian action.
- Engaging EU Member States on Inclusive Humanitarian Action: EDF addressed the Council of the EU’s Working Party on Humanitarian Aid and Food Aid (COHAFA), highlighting the importance of engaging OPDs in crisis response and ensuring disability inclusion in EU humanitarian policies and programmes.
- Advocating for the Rights of Palestinians with Disabilities: EDF raised the urgent situation of persons with disabilities in the Occupied Palestinian Territory with the European Parliament, calling on the EU to ensure humanitarian aid, evacuation routes, and shelters are accessible and inclusive.
Disaster Risk Reduction
- Contributing to the EU Preparedness Union Strategy: EDF monitored and advocated for disability inclusion in the EU’s new Preparedness Union Strategy.
- Leading a Regional Diagnostic on Disability-Inclusive Preparedness: In partnership with the World Bank and GFDRR, EDF conducted a regional diagnostic covering 38 countries to assess how disability is integrated into disaster preparedness and response systems.
- Promoting Inclusive Crisis Preparedness through EU Dialogue and Training: EDF contributed expertise to EU emergency preparedness training and policy dialogues, highlighting best practices from member organisations and advocating for accessible early warning systems and inclusive preparedness frameworks.
- Strengthening Knowledge on Disaster Risk Communication: EDF participated in PreparEU workshops on disaster risk communication, contributing to training development for civil protection authorities and civil society to ensure emergency communication is accessible.
Climate Action
- Advancing Disability Inclusion in EU Climate Policy: EDF engaged with the Cabinet of the EU Commissioner for Climate to highlight the disproportionate impact of climate change on persons with disabilities and the need for inclusion in climate policy.
- Promoting an Inclusive Just Transition in EU Policy: EDF participated in discussions at the European Parliament on the Just Transition, advocating for accessibility in employment, infrastructure, transport, and social protection.
- Advocating for Disability Inclusion in Global Climate Negotiations: EDF contributed to advocacy at COP30 in Brazil, supporting the Disability Caucus and promoting accessibility and disability inclusion in climate negotiations and climate finance discussions with EU representatives.
Read the third edition of the EU in the World 2025 report (PDF)