As the European Union shapes its next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), there is an opportunity to ensure that its external action reflects not only political priorities, but deeper commitments to human dignity, inclusion and justice.
A new joint briefing from the International Disability and Development Consortium and the European Disability Forum highlights a critical gap in the current proposal for the Global Europe Instrument (GEI) — and sets out practical amendments to address it.
At stake is a simple question: will disability inclusion be treated as a guiding principle, or as a binding commitment shaping how EU funding is delivered?
From values to implementation
The EU has committed to human rights and to “leave no one behind”, and is bound by the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Yet the current GEI proposal risks falling short. Without a clear legal anchor for disability rights in the Articles, inclusion may depend on interpretation rather than obligation.
For faith-based organisations, this is not only technical — it goes to the heart of dignity, participation and justice.
Why this matters for EU-CORD
EU-CORD engages in the International Disability and Development Consortium because disability inclusion is integral to principled humanitarian and development action.
Across our network, members work in contexts where exclusion is shaped by intersecting factors, including disability. Strengthening inclusion in EU policy and funding helps ensure external action reflects these realities.
Engagement in IDDC also strengthens EU-CORD’s advocacy by linking lived experience with collective policy expertise in Brussels.
A question of dignity
Persons with disabilities are too often excluded from services, decision-making and opportunities. A rights-based approach is therefore not only about access, but about participation, agency and inherent worth.
This reflects a perspective rooted in faith traditions, which affirm the equal value of every individual and call for particular attention to those most marginalised.
Practical steps forward
The IDDC–EDF proposals offer targeted solutions, including:
- embedding a binding reference to the CRPD;
- ensuring accessible and predictable funding for civil society, including OPDs;
- strengthening participation across the programme cycle;
- introducing safeguards to promote accessibility and community-based approaches.
These measures help ensure EU funding reaches those most often excluded, in ways that respect their rights and dignity.
A timely moment
As MFF negotiations continue, there is still time to strengthen the GEI so it reflects both EU obligations and values.
For EU-CORD, engagement in partnerships such as IDDC is one way to ensure that policy, practice and values remain aligned — and that inclusion is built in from the start.
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-jigsaw-puzzle-illustration-262488/
