On 1 July, Spain took over the Presidency of the Council of the EU from Sweden who took this role in the first half of 2023. We took a closer look at the programme of the new Presidency to see if it reflects any of the issues that the disability movement is campaigning for.
Our first analysis is rather positive. In fact, out of the four priorities that the Spanish Presidency has determined, one is directly related to persons with disabilities. They are:
- Reindustrialise the EU and ensure its open strategic autonomy.
- Advance in the green transition and the environmental adaptation.
- Promoting greater social and economic justice.
- Strengthening European unity.
In the explanation about Priority no. 3, the website of the Presidency explicitly mentions:
“Accordingly, the Spanish Presidency […] will push for the extension of workers’ rights in several areas and for vulnerable groups such as children, women suffering from violence, and people with disabilities.”
EU Disability Card
Looking into the relevant legislative files concerned, the Spanish Presidency has already pointed out their interest in the European Disability Card, including a planned event in November. The Presidency will also work on the Council’s position on the Card (called the General Approach) once the Commission proposal on the Card is published in September.
Other priorities
The Presidency also announced it will work on a slew of priorities as part of the Trio of Presidencies:
- Improving passengers’ rights
- Mental Health (including council conclusions on youth and mental health)
- Youth
- Inclusive Education
- Fair labour mobility
- Inclusive Health Systems
- Access to culture
- Equality at work
- Access to adequate housing
- Roma
The Presidency has promised to take up discussion on the proposal for a Horizontal Non-Discrimination Directive (“Article 19 Directive) which has been blocked in the Council for more than a decade now.
Events are planned on topics such as:
- The future of work (September)
- The right to care (October)
- The child guarantee (November), social economy (November)
- Persons with disabilities and the Disability Card (November)
- Violence against women (November – combined with informal meeting of the Equality Ministers),
- The consolidation of minimum income schemes.
A full list of events can be found on the Presidency website.
A promising presidency
All in all, this is a very promising start to a Presidency with a strong emphasis on social affairs and equality and we are hoping to advance many policy files during the next six months.
References and links
- Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union – Trio website
- Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union – Trio Programme
- Spanish Presidency Priorities
Contacts
Marie Denninghaus – EDF Senior Policy Coordinator
Álvaro Couceiro – EDF Employment Policy Officer