European Disability Strategy 2010-2020
In its publication of the Evaluation of the European Disability Strategy 2010-2020, the European Commission said that in the last ten years, the strategy helped to remove barriers for persons with disabilities in the European Union.
The strategy aimed to empower persons with disabilities to enjoy their full rights and to benefit from participating in society on an equal basis with others. The evaluation shows that, while there is room for improvement, there has been an overall positive impact on European Union rules and policies.
One example of its positive impact is the inclusion of disability issues in European Union policy and legislation, with the adoption of the European Accessibility Act, the Web Accessibility Directive and legislation on passenger rights.
The evaluation report states that the positive results have also been achieved through the involvement of persons with disabilities and their representative organisations in the policy-design of the strategy.
The new strategy for 2021-2030 will build on the achievements of its predecessor and address emerging issues such as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on persons with disabilities and the challenges they continue to face, such as in employment and risk of poverty.