As part of the European Commission’s priorities for the 2024–2029 mandate, the European Union committed to strengthening a “Union of Equality”. This commitment aims to ensure that equality, non-discrimination, and fundamental rights are consistently promoted across EU policies. To achieve this objective, the European Commission announced plans to update and develop several key policy frameworks, including a new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy, an updated Anti-Racism Strategy, a Roadmap for Women’s Rights, and a new Gender Equality Strategy.
Two years later, in 2026, the European Commission has carried out significant policy work to deliver on these commitments. Several new strategic frameworks have now been published, including the EU Anti-Racism Strategy 2026–2030, the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2026–2030, and the Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030.
The European Union of the Deaf (EUD) contributed to the development of the Gender Equality Strategy by consulting its members during a dedicated workshop in May 2025 and by submitting input to the European Commission’s public consultation.
At the same time, the European Commission is currently preparing the new Action Plan 2026–2030 under the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (ESRPD). The publication of this Action Plan is expected in the coming months. EUD has actively engaged in the development of this initiative through several advocacy activities. In 2025, EUD published its Policy Recommendations on the updated ESRPD, its Policy Team met with representatives of the European Commission’s Disability Unit and provided input to the draft own-initiative report of the European Parliament on the implementation of the ESRPD. In 2026, EUD met with a representative of the Cabinet of Commissioner Hadja Lahbib, attended the EESC hearing on the EU Disability Strategy Action Plan, and contributed to the public consultation on the upcoming Action Plan.
Together, these initiatives contribute to the broader framework through which the European Union aims to build a Union of Equality. This framework currently includes:
- the EU Roma Strategic Framework for Equality, Inclusion and Participation 2020–2030,
- the EU Anti-Racism Strategy 2026–2030,
- the LGBTIQ Equality Strategy 2026–2030,
- the Gender Equality Strategy 2026–2030,
- and the European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2020–2030 together with its forthcoming Action Plan 2026–2030.
Across these policy frameworks, the perspectives of persons with disabilities are increasingly recognised as an important cross-cutting dimension. This intersectional approach highlights how discrimination can affect individuals in multiple ways and emphasises the need for coordinated action across different policy areas. Ensuring that disability perspectives are integrated into equality strategies is essential to guarantee that deaf people across the European Union are effectively protected from discrimination and able to fully exercise their rights.
The next major step at EU level will be the development of a new Action Plan for the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, aimed at advancing the EU’s 2030 social targets. EUD contributed to the public consultation on this initiative, with a particular focus on Principle 17 of the Pillar, which concerns the inclusion of persons with disabilities. The publication of the new Action Plan is expected in the near future. EUD will continue to monitor this process closely and advocate for measures that strengthen the inclusion and rights of deaf people across the European Union.
