Advancing Disability Rights in the EU
A blueprint in the social agenda of the Spanish presidency
Abstract
The 2023 Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union marks the fifth time Spain has taken on this presidency since joining the former European Community (EC) in 1986. This presidential term arrives at a key juncture for the European Union (EU) as it falls in the final stretch of the EU institutional cycle before the European Parliament elections, scheduled in May 2024, which will see the appointment of a new Commission. In such a critical period, Spain is challenged with completing negotiations on strategic issues related to the digital and green transitions and a broad social agenda. Notably, at the beginning, Spain announced that “promoting greater social and economic justice” was one of the four thematic areas characterising its aspirations for its presidency. This area is quite wide-ranging, but includes specific actions related to the protection of vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, and places strong emphasis on the advancement of the European Disability Card (EDC) as a vital instrument to enhance free movement of people with disabilities in the EU. Against this background, this article discusses the role of the Spanish Presidency in advancing disability rights within the remit of its social agenda. It focuses on the EDC as testbed for the Presidency. In fact, the Spanish support and vision will be key to bringing this forward and preparing the ground for adoption of the EDC directive, before “passing the baton” to the forthcoming Belgian Presidency.
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