Cuardaigh

The EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities runs until 2030. Considering persistent inequalities, the Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs has called for an updated framework for 2025-2030. This own-initiative report is scheduled for debate during the November II plenary session.

This study provides a complementary impact assessment of the proposed Council directive on equal treatment outside of employment on the grounds of religion or belief, disability, age, and sexual orientation. It covers all EU Member States. Moreover, it includes five case studies: Czechia, Germany, Italy, Romania and Sweden. It reviews the necessity of the proposed EU initiative and its added value, considering subsidiarity and proportionality. The study analyses the coherence of the proposed directive ...

This report, requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, examines EU progress on implementing UN CRPD Article 19. It synthesises the EU's 2015 and 2025 UN CRPD reviews, assesses implications of the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 and evaluates Member States' efforts on deinstitutionalisation. Despite policy advances, institutionalisation, inadequate community-based services and lack of meaningful consultation persist. Clear definitions, a ...

The European Commission's interim evaluation of the current (2021 2027) European Solidarity Corps programme affirms the programme's success in fostering youth engagement, social cohesion and solidarity across Europe. The evaluation confirms that the programme effectively promotes inclusion, diversity and democratic participation while strengthening European identity and values. However, it also finds that the programme lacks sufficient funds.

Access to culture is a fundamental human right according to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: cultural rights are indispensable for the dignity and the free development of the personality, and 'everyone has the right freely to participate in the cultural life of the community, [and] to enjoy the arts'. Despite this legal underpinning, not everyone in the EU has equal access to culture. People with disabilities, and people living in rural, remote and disadvantaged areas, face a complex set ...

Both women and men with disabilities face inequalities because of their disability, but their experiences differ depending on their gender. The situation of women with disabilities is tough. They are worse off than women without disabilities and face more challenges than their male peers because of gender stereotypes that push women and men into traditional roles. Women and girls with disabilities face multifaceted discrimination due to both gender-based and disability-related barriers, affecting ...

The EU has made increasing participation in early childhood education and care (ECEC) a key priority, since there are clear benefits from attending quality ECEC, particularly for children who may face additional needs or difficulties. This infographic is based on the Eurydice report 2025, of key data on ECEC in Europe. The data show some progress in expanding access to ECEC services, especially for younger children. However, in most Member States there is still an 'ECEC gap', a time without childcare ...

The Roma are Europe's largest ethnic minority. Out of an estimated total of 10-12 million Roma in Europe as a whole, some 6 million live in the European Union (EU) and most of them are citizens of an EU Member State. A significant number of Roma people live in very poor socio-economic conditions. The social exclusion, discrimination and segregation they face are mutually reinforcing. Their restricted access to education and difficulties entering the labour market result in low income and poor health ...

In her political guidelines of July 2024, Commission President von der Leyen proposed a STEM education strategic plan, related to the Union of Skills, a key initiative from 2024 to 2029. The President highlighted not only the lack of qualified teachers in areas linked to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), but also the aim of attracting more girls and women into STEM education and careers.

The European disability rights strategy for 2021-2030 is due to be updated, since the list of initiatives published in 2021 only goes up to 2025. During its December plenary session, Parliament is expected to hold a debate on the new initiatives the European Commission should commit to for the 2025-2030 period.