News Details

The Institute for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, I.P. (IDiPD), as national representative, participated in the annual meeting of the Disability Platform, promoted by the European Commission, which took place on 8 May 2026 in Limassol, Cyprus, under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Work focused on the priorities of the Cyprus Presidencies and the incoming Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union on disability. The Cyprus Presidency underlined the importance of social inclusion, autonomy and community-based support services in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The incoming Irish Presidency has already put forward as priorities the promotion of accessible digital technologies, the integration of artificial intelligence, the employment of persons with disabilities and the strengthening of civil society involvement in public policy-making.

During the meeting, the European Commission also presented the Communication “Enhanced Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities up to 2030”, adopted in May 2026, strengthening the effective implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities in the European Union. The strategy maintains accessibility, employment and independent living as priorities, and introduces new strategic axes related to assistive technologies, accessible transport, democratic participation and enhanced monitoring of the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Discussions between Member States and civil society organisations highlighted the need to strengthen mechanisms for implementing and monitoring public policies, to ensure an appropriate use of European funds in line with the principles of independent living and to promote the meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making processes.

Issues related to disability assessment, mental health, collection of disaggregated statistical data and recognition of invisible, progressive and fluctuating disabilities, as well as the implementation of the European Disability Card were also discussed.

The meeting also included the preparation of the 19th ª Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (COSP), to be held in June 2026 in New York.

In conclusion, it was stressed that European disability policy will continue to have a cross-cutting character and remain embedded in broader social initiatives of the European Union, notably in the future "Care Deal" and the "Job Quality Act", enhancing the promotion of the inclusion, autonomy and quality of life of persons with disabilities.