State of the European Union 2026: disability largely absent

The 2026 State of the European Union (SOTEU) address, delivered by the President of the European Commission, featured some positive steps towards accessibility but left much to be desired when it came to the inclusion of disability rights and the recognition of marginalised groups.

Accessibility of the Address

For the first time, the SOTEU was interpreted in International Sign, available through the European Parliament’s page, marking an important advancement in accessibility. However, the European Disability Forum (EDF) expressed regret that no further accessibility measures were taken. EDF has called for additional services including high-quality real-time captioning, interpretation in national sign languages, and an easy-to-read version of the address to ensure full participation for all persons with disabilities.

Focus on Human Rights and Inclusion

Disappointingly, the speech did not concentrate on advancing the rights of marginalised groups or strengthening human rights, coming at a time when such issues face significant challenges. EDF highlighted this absence as a troubling sign that equality has not been prioritised sufficiently within the current Commission’s agenda or by the President herself.

Disability-Related Initiatives and Concerns

Although no new disability-specific initiatives were announced, the address did acknowledge the European Care Deal, aimed at demographic change and affirming that “care is not a privilege.” EDF emphasised the importance that this Deal supports persons with disabilities in ways that guarantee their independence and freedom.

The mention of the European Pillar of Social Rights and an upcoming Summit to ensure its implementation was welcomed. The speech’s commitment to a Quality Jobs Act, promising to harness artificial intelligence (AI) to improve skills, must also ensure that AI in the workplace is accessible and does not discriminate against disabled persons.

EDF renewed concerns regarding proposed social media restrictions, which place the responsibility on users rather than technology companies. Social media platforms have become vital for many disabled people to connect with communities and participate fully in public life — alternative avenues remain often inaccessible. Additionally, the planned implementation of age verification may be inaccessible to some disabled people, risking further exclusion.

Other Notable Proposals

The speech included initiatives such as a climate insurance alliance to financially support people affected by climate-related disasters, alongside a European Heatwave Plan. EDF stressed that these should incorporate specific measures addressing the safety and health of persons with disabilities and ensure assistive technologies and devices are properly insured and replaced promptly.

The Mediterranean Youth Skills and Jobs initiative was highlighted as an opportunity to promote cooperation with organisations representing young disabled people in Mediterranean countries and enhance their employment prospects.

Notably, the President called for a robust EU budget with adequate funding to effect meaningful change, a move broadly welcomed by EDF.

Important Initiatives Mentioned Only Outside the Speech

Some efforts shown on the official SOTEU page but not referenced in the speech include:

The Emergency Response Framework, which should guarantee round-the-clock accessible emergency services.
A Commission Recommendation to ban conversion practices, representing progress for the rights of the LGBTIQ community.
A long-awaited Recommendation addressing harmful practices against women, including the forced sterilisation of women with disabilities, promised in the earlier Gender Equality Strategy.

Recognising the Impact of Conflict

The address also included the story of Sasha, a Ukrainian child disabled by injury during the Russian attack, poignantly illustrating the devastating effect of the conflict on civilians of all ages. EDF commended Sasha’s resilience and expressed hope that European leaders will unite to bring about a just end to the war in Ukraine and promote peace worldwide.

To explore the speech and the proposed initiatives, the official page of the address is available for viewing.