The European Disability Strategy 2010-2020

Briefing 10-07-2017

The European Disability Strategy 2010-2020 (EDS) constitutes a comprehensive multiannual framework for implementing the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) at EU level. The EDS and CRPD are thus closely intertwined. Whilst many stakeholders had called for a revision of the EDS, the recent European Commission progress report suggests instead to maintain the Strategy's objectives for the remaining period. However, given that the current Strategy ends in 2020, preparation of the future disability framework will need to start before much longer. This briefing, prepared by the Ex-Post Evaluation Unit of the European Parliamentary Research Service (EPRS), aims to outline the scope and objectives of the EDS and to analyse its implementation. It has been drafted in support of the implementation report on the EDS, which is currently being drawn up by the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) in close consultation with disability organisations, in response to the Commission’s progress report.