The European Parliament Committee on Employment and Social Affairs discussed the Concluding Observations to the EU during their meeting of 13 May. The discussion took the form of an exchange of views the European Commission and the European Disability Forum.
Summary
- The European Commission is still reflecting on the way forward and the work on disability in this mandate.
- The Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU (second half 2025) is considering adopting Council Conclusions on Independent Living.
- The European Parliament must pressure and audit how the European Union follows up on these Concluding Observations.
Opening
The Chair opened the meeting by focusing on key points of the Recommendations, including:
- Stopping EU funding from supporting segregating institutions;
- More effort to fight for the rights of women with disabilities and their full inclusion in the Labour Market;
- Political participation of persons with disabilities.
The Chair expressed that the Committee conveyed their concerns to European Commission Vice-President Roxana Mînzatu on numerous occasions.
Commission states that reflection is still ongoing
Lucie Davoine, Acting Head of the Disability Unit at the European Commission, summarised the Dialogue with the Committee, including the concerns on the draft law on vulnerable adults.
She outlined that the Concluding Observations are ‘a clear milestone that helps shape the work of disability’ in this mandate. However, she added that the Commission is still reflecting on the way forward.
Our deputy director, Alejandro Moledo, reminded the Committee that the recommendations are “just the beginning of further progress” and not an end in themselves. He explained that the report shows that the European Union must step up progress in implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
He then outlined the Forum’s view on which recommendations should be prioritised.
He finished by asking the Committee to, in the future, audit how these Concluding Observations have been followed and implemented by the Commission and Council.
Members of the European Parliament call for a clear path
Members of the European Parliament then questioned the European Commission on a number of issues.
We highlight the following points from the Commission’s answer:
- The European Commission is analysing accession to the Optional Protocol of the Convention, in light of Member States’ individual accession.
- Further work and guidelines for Member Statements on banning and stopping infringement of human rights, such as forced sterilisation.
- The Danish Presidency of the Council of the EU (second half of 2025) is considering adopting Council Conclusions on Independent Living.
Notable interventions included:
- MEP Rosa Estaràs Ferragut asked for ratification of the Optional Protocol, and pointed to the lack of initiatives to address intersectional issues. She underscored the need to improve inclusive education and employment.
- MEP Chiara Gemma underlined the need to strengthen support for deinstitutionalisation and use EU funding for individualised training and support in the labour market.
- MEP Valérie Devaux underlined the need to ensure all policies are done with close cooperation of organisations of persons with disabilities. She signalled that the Renew Group is proposing a pilot project on the European Disability Employment and Skills Guarantee.
- MEP Katrin Langensiepen focused on the need for legislative action to stop infringement of human rights, including to end forced sterilisation.
- MEP Ciaran Mullooly denounced the lack of action on stopping deprivation of liberty.