Europe in Action is a conference which brings together more than 200 people with intellectual disabilities, their families and professionals.
The aim of Europe in Action is to showcase the work being done for the inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities across Europe.
The conference is also an opportunity to help people and organisations in the inclusion movement gain and develop skills and experiences to ensure more effective advocacy.
Participants discuss issues important to them and share experiences and ideas to advance inclusion. There are many opportunities to discuss and learn about the work being done in different countries.
The conferences are organised by our member in the country together with Inclusion Europe.
The first Europe in Action conference was organised in 2003, in Tallin, Estonia.
The most recent Europe in Action took place in Glasgow, Scotland, in 2024. Europe in Action conferences used to be organised every year. From 2022 onward, the conference is organised bi-annualy, alternating with the Hear our Voices! self-advocacy conferences.
Europe in Action 2026
Glasgow 2024
Over 400 participants attended the 2024 Europe in Action conference in Glasgow.
There were many opportunities to discuss and learn about the work being done in different countries.
- Developing self-advocacy and activism.
- Changing disability support services to be person-led, and aligned with disability rights.
- Celebrating good work being done for inclusion across Europe, including learning from others (women’s’ rights, anti-racism etc.).
It was the 20th Europe in Action, and also a celebration of the 70th anniversary of Enable.
Brussels 2022
Europe in Action to End Segregation conference took place from 7 to 9 September 2022 in Brussels.
The conference was an opportunity for our movement to come together after almost 3 years. To meet and exchange on what is happening in our organisations and countries. To learn from one another about how to promote inclusion successfully. To discuss and plan next steps in our fight for full rights and inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities and families.
Tampere 2021
Europe in Action was organised by Inclusion Finland KVTL as an online event, with the topic of employement.
The 4-day conference gathered over 370 participants from 25 countries that had a chance to attend 28 sessions and workshops that featured 10 examples of employment support. The conference had six self-advocate speakers and one self-advocacy session and 15 speakers from countries across four continents.
2020 conference was planned for Vienna, with focus on education. It was cancelled because of the covid pandemic.
Vilnius 2019
The aim of Europe in Action conference, which took place in Vilnius in Lithuania and was hosted by our member Viltis, was to provide new ideas on how to make inclusion happen everywhere, for everyone:
- How to support the transition from institutions into the community
- How to support people once they live in the community, for example through supported decision-making, support in finding employment and accessibility measures
Conference participants had the opportunity to reach out and discuss with the people of Vilnius, with two meetings held in Užupis and at Lukiškių Square. People with intellectual disabilities organised in the new social initiative “Viltis – POWER OF COFFEE” prepared coffee and invited passers-by to enjoy a fresh brew and discuss about independent living.
Birmingham 2018 – World Congress
A celebratin of our 30th anniversary, insightful sessions and, as a result, extremely satisfied attendees: We could not be happier about our participation at the World Congress of Inclusion International!
The congress which took place from 30 May to 1 June, gathered up to 1,000 people with an intellectual disability, their family members and professionals from 71 countries in Birmingham (England). Europe in Action was part of the event.
Prague 2017
“Love, life and friendship” – and how to make sure that people with intellectual disabilities can experience them just like everyone else. That was the topic of Europe in Action in Prague from 1-3 June 2017.
More than 50 speakers contributed to an even attended by over 200 participants.
Lisbon 2016
More than 150 participants attended the Europe in Action conference which took place in Lisbon from 26 to 28 May 2016.
Participants from 23 European countries, but also Australia, Canada and the United States, focused on the role of families in the promotion and implementation of inclusive education.
Rome 2015
350 participants attended, including people with intellectual disabilities, their families, carers and representative organisations. The event, which took place in Rome on 21 and 22 May, addressed effective and innovating ways of strengthening the self-advocacy movement at local, regional and national levels, while discussing the impact of self-advocacy on families.
Belfast 2014
“An intellectual difficulty is not a loving difficulty.” These words of a parent with an intellectual disability perfectly summarized Inclusion Europe’s 2014 Europe in Action.
Titled Growing up with an intellectual disability, the discussed the unique challenges and opportunities of bringing up children with disabilities, and offered resources for parents with or without disabilities themselves. The conference took place in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on 15-17 May.
Ljubljana 2013
During the 2013 annual conference of Inclusion Europe, self-advocates, their families, organisations, service-providers and public authorities gathered in Ljubljana to celebrate the increasing longevity of people with intellectual disabilities.
Brussels 2012
Strategies to increase employment opportunities for workers with intellectual disabilities in the mainstream labour market were under the spotlight during Inclusion Europe’s annual conference in Brussels.
150 participants from more than twenty countries attended. This included persons with intellectual disabilities, their supporters, family members, professionals, public authorities and service-providers.
Larnaca 2011
“Family Action for the Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities in Society” was the central theme of the Europe in Action 2011 in Larnaca, Cyprus.
Two and a half-day conference provided an opportunity for mutual exchange of views and experiences among people with intellectual disabilities, their relatives and disability professionals as well as policy-makers at European level.
Berling 2010 – World Congress
2,700 people with intellectual disabilities, family members, policy makers and professionals from more than 80 countries gathered under the slogan “Transforming Global Rights into Action”, making this the largest event of Inclusion International to date.
The 15th World Congress of Inclusion International took place from 16-19 June 2010 in Berlin. Europe in Action 2010 was part of the event.
The main objective was to discuss and advance the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities worldwide and to pave the way for an inclusive society.
Tampere 2009
“Full participation and equality” was the topic of Europe in Action 2009 in Tampere, Finland.
Vienna 2008
“Education for all” was the topic of the 2008 Europe in Action in Vienna, Austria, hosted by Lebenshilfe Österreich.
Warsaw 2007
“Citizens’ rights for all” was the Europe in Action 2007 conference in Warsaw, Poland, hosted by PSONI.
Brussels 2006
“Learning all our lives: Continuing education for adults with intellectual disabilities” was the topic of Europe in Action 2006 in Brussels, Belgium.
Prague 2005
“From institutional care towards community services” was the topic of Europe in Action 2005 in Prague, Czechia, hosted by SPMP.
Dublin 2004
“How to fight discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities and their families” was the topic of 2004 Europe in Action in Dublin, Ireland.
It was attended by 230 participants, hosted by Inclusion Ireland.
Tallin 2003
The first Europe in Action conference took place in Tallin, Estonia, in 2003. It was hosted by Evpit.
The topic was “Human Rights instruments and how to use them to defend the rights of people with intellectual disability and their families.”
See all our events.