2025 work plan of the European Commission includes several items very important to people with intellectual disabilities and their families. It also revealed the Commission withdraws its proposed Equal Treatment Directive.
There are 8 initiatives, that are of specific importance to people with intellectual disabilities and their families.
It is worth noting that the Commission’s work programme does not include specific initiatives related to the EU Disability Rights Strategy.
All these initiatives (except one) are “non-legislative”, meaning they do not represent legal texts (laws), but rather policies and strategies.
Inclusion Europe will work to bring their views and expectations into these initiatives and policies. Here, we highlight what the European Commission plans to do in 2025, and we sceth out how it is relevant to us.
Action plan for European Pillar of Social Rights, Q4
The European Pillar of Social Rights defines 20 principles for the European Union to become more inclusive and fairer and to improve the lives of all European citizens.
The European Pillar of Social Rights specifically recognises the right of people with disabilities to inclusion (Principle 17).
Other principles are relevant for persons with intellectual disabilities and their families:
- inclusive education and training and access to life-long learning opportunities;
- person-centred support and assistance for employment and self-employment;
- Fair and equal working conditions;
- home-care and community-based services;
- social housing;
- and more.
Quality jobs roadmap, Q4; Union of Skills, Q1
What are these initiatives going to do about the massive difference between employment of people with disabilities and non-disabled population?
And especially people with intellectual disabilities?
Also in access to trainings, skills development, life-long learning?
European Democracy Shield, Q3
Surely, it’ll deal with the fact EU countries deny people their right to vote because of legal capacity. And with elections accessibility, including in terms of information.
EU Strategy to support, protect and empower the civil society, Q3
Self-advocacy organisations and groups are more frequently than not excluded from public decision-making, lack necessary resources etc.
There are also proposals for:
- Equality Roadmap for Women’s Rights, Q1
- Equality New equality strategies for LGBTIQ, and Anti-racism
Post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework proposals, Q3 – law
How the EU will be spending its money: What kind of priorities, how much. What will it do for 20 million people with intellectual disabilities and their family members?
Already in the works – directive to make deprivation of legal capacity easier
Proposal for a regulation on jurisdiction, applicable law, recognition and enforcement of measures and cooperation in matters relating to the protection of adults
- Making life easier for countries that deny people their legal capacity.
Equal Treatment Directive withdrawn
The European Commission is withdrawing the proposal for “directive on implementing the principle of equal treatment between persons irrespective of religion or belief, DISABILITY, age or sexual orientation
- The reason given by the European Commission: “the proposal is blocked and further progress is unlikely.”