Executive Summary
The 2024 “EU in the World” report highlights the European Disability Forum’s (EDF) efforts to ensure that disability rights are fully integrated into European Union (EU) external action activities (i.e. EU initiatives outside its borders, including everything the EU does to promote peace, security, human rights, and development worldwide). This report outlines key advancements, challenges, and advocacy priorities over the past year, as well as future areas of focus.
EU external action is guided by several key laws and policies aiming to ensure disability inclusion in international cooperation and humanitarian efforts. The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) legally binds the EU and the EU Member States to uphold disability rights in its external policies, particularly in international cooperation and emergency situations, while the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 highlights the EU’s commitment for promoting the rights of persons with disabilities globally.
Both the CRPD and the Strategy offer a framework for EU external action and supports disability inclusion in EU external action. However, continued collaboration with Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and advocacy by EDF and partners is necessary to monitor EU external action for accessibility and disability inclusion.
Key highlights
- Advocating for a Disability Action Plan: EDF continued to advocate for an EU Disability Action Plan in external action, similar to existing plans on gender and youth. The European Parliament discussed this in December 2024.
- Strengthening the Human Rights and Democracy Action Plan: With the extension of the EU Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy to 2027, EDF emphasised the need for stronger disability inclusion, better mainstreaming, and alignment with the CRPD.
- Ensuring Disability Inclusion in the EU Talent Pool: EDF advocated for disability-inclusive measures in the proposed EU Talent Pool, including commitments on accessibility, awareness-raising, and consultation with OPDs.
- Adopting the Solfagnano Charter: The first-ever G7 Ministerial Meeting on disability resulted in the Solfagnano Charter, setting priorities for disability inclusion, with both the EU and EDF providing input throughout the drafting process.
- Strengthening EU Delegation Partnerships: EDF facilitated engagement between EU Delegations and OPDs in Nepal and Georgia, reinforcing collaboration on disability rights.
- Driving Disability Inclusion in EU Human Rights Dialogues: Together with OPDs, EDF contributed to the EU human rights dialogues with Armenia, the African Union, Nepal, Ukraine, and Tajikistan, highlighting critical disability rights within these partner countries and regions.
- Assessing Disability Inclusion in EU Official Development Assistance (ODA): EDF’s latest analysis found some progress but serious gaps in EU ODA.
- European Humanitarian Forum: EDF raised concerns about the lack of funding and political commitment to disability-inclusive humanitarian aid, highlighting accessibility barriers at the yearly European Humanitarian Forum hosted by the European Commission.
- European Parliament Workshop: EDF contributed to discussions with the European Parliament Development (DEVE) Committee on strengthening disability-inclusive humanitarian action in the EU.
- EU Civil Protection Forum: EDF advocated for inclusive disaster preparedness, emphasising the high mortality rates of persons with disabilities in disasters and the need for accessible emergency responses during the annual EU Civil Protection Forum.
- European Regional Disability Summit 2024: Convened over 800 participants to discuss inclusive international cooperation and humanitarian action, with a focus on disability rights in times of crisis with EU representatives joining as experts.
- Human Rights Defenders Spotlight: EDF facilitated the participation of human rights defenders with disabilities at an EU Parliament event, highlighting their challenges and the need for stronger support.
- Ukraine Facility: EDF successfully advocated for OPD participation and accessibility in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts but noted gaps in similar EU funding mechanisms for Moldova and the Western Balkans.
- Ukraine Recovery: EDF and partners developed a donor guide for inclusive recovery and a plan to engage donors including the EU through a roundtable discussion.
- EU Accession: EDF contributed to Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia’s EU accession processes by developing a report and toolkit on disability inclusion.
- Advocacy for Gaza: EDF worked with Human Rights Watch and the Disability Justice for Palestine Collective to raise EU awareness of the severe challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Gaza.