Mr. President, dear friends,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union.

The European Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 is proving instrumental to implement the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the EU.

We have put in place the European Disability Platform to reinforce our cooperation with EU Member States in implementing the Strategy and the Convention, with full participation of organisations of persons with disabilities.

We are finalising the launch of a Disability Employment Package to develop an inclusive labour market for all persons with disabilities.

Accessible and innovative technologies are essential for the inclusion of persons with disabilities. We are reinforcing the implementation of our legal instruments to make the EU more accessible.

We will launch AccessibleEU, a resource centre to increase coherence and facilitate access to knowledge and good practice on accessibility in the EU.

Accessible technologies and EU funds are also essential for an inclusive recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and to mitigate its disproportionate effects on persons with disabilities.

Today, our thoughts are with persons affected by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.

Guided by the Convention, the EU is providing support in humanitarian aid for persons with disabilities.

At the same time, the EU and its Member States are helping with the reception of refugees with disabilities fleeing the war against Ukraine.  

We have shared our progress with the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities during his first visit to the EU. We look forward to his conclusions and guidance.

As pledged at the Global Disability Summit 2022, we will continue to organise regular structured dialogues and support with funding the implementation of the CRPD, among others through the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, as well as to share our experiences with our partners across the world.