Read the IDDC – EDF joint position paper
As the European Union (EU) shapes its next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034, decisions taken now will determine whether EU external action truly delivers on its commitment to disability rights and inclusion — or leaves persons with disabilities behind.
A new joint position by the International Disability and Development Consortium (IDDC) and the European Disability Forum (EDF) sets out concrete targeted amendments to the proposed Global Europe Instrument (GEI) which aim to ensure that disability rights are fully embedded in the EU’s external financing architecture – not as a policy choice, but as a legal requirement.
A question of legal consistency — not policy preference
The European Union and all its Member States are State Parties to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD). This creates a clear legal obligation: EU policies and funding, including EU external action, must comply with the Convention.
Yet, in its current form, the GEI proposal falls short. While the CRPD is referenced in the recitals, it is not anchored in the Articles of the GEI Regulation. This distinction matters. Without a binding reference, disability inclusion risks being treated as optional rather than mandatory in implementation.
At a time when the EU positions itself as a global champion of human rights, this gap undermines both credibility and coherence.
What is at stake
If unaddressed, these gaps will have real consequences:
- Inconsistent inclusion across programmes and geographies, depending on interpretation rather than obligation;
- Reduced access to funding and participation for civil society, including organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs);
- Risk of harmful or outdated approaches, including investments that do not meet accessibility standards or that perpetuate segregation rather than support community-based inclusion.
In short, without stronger provisions, the GEI risks falling short of the EU’s own “leave no one behind” commitment and CRPD obligations.
Targeted solutions that strengthen the Instrument
The IDDC–EDF proposals are not about expanding the scope of the Instrument. They are about ensuring it delivers on disability rights and inclusion – in line with existing commitments.
Key amendments focus on:
- Embedding the CRPD in the Articles to ensure legal enforceability;
- Guaranteeing accessible and predictable funding for civil society, including OPDs;
- Ensuring meaningful participation of persons with disabilities and OPDs throughout the programme cycle;
- Applying a twin-track approach, that combines disability mainstreaming with targeted actions on disability inclusion;
- Strengthening safeguards to ensure EU funding promotes accessibility, inclusion and community-based approaches.
These are practical and proportionate changes that improve clarity, reduce implementation risks, and support more effective delivery and outcomes.
From commitments to implementation
The EU has repeatedly affirmed its commitment to disability rights — through the CRPD, the European Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and its broader human rights framework.
The Global Europe Instrument is where those commitments must translate into practice.
Embedding disability inclusion in the legal architecture of the GEI is not a technical detail — it is what determines whether EU funding consistently reaches and supports all people, including those most often excluded.
A timely opportunity
The ongoing negotiations provide a clear opportunity to close this gap. By adopting the proposed amendments, EU institutions can ensure that the next generation of external financing:
- is legally coherent with EU obligations;
- reflects a modern, rights-based approach to inclusion;
- and strengthens the EU’s credibility as a global actor committed to human rights, including disability rights and inclusion.
The choice is straightforward: embed disability rights in the foundations of the new Instrument — or risk addressing them only in implementation, unevenly and inconsistently.
For IDDC and EDF, the path forward is clear. The GEI must deliver — for everyone including persons with disabilities.