The third Disability Rights Week in the European Parliament takes place from 1 to 5 December 2025 and Committees, Policy Departments, Vice-Presidents, Questors and Directorates General are invited to organise hearings and other types of activities focusing on the rights of persons with disabilities in their respective policy and administrative areas.
The rights of persons with disabilities have been high on the agenda in the past mandate and the EU and its institutions have been very active in that respect. Many flagship initiatives stemming from the Commission's Disability Strategy 2021 to 2030 have been put in place but we are still awaiting an update on its second half. The UN CRPD Committee put forward a report on the EU in Spring this year, containing recommendations how the EU and its institutions can better comply with the UN CRPD and thus gave us homework. The forthcoming Disability Rights Week is an excellent opportunity to discuss these issues with, and to learn from persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.
Location : Brussels
Draft Programme
EP research publications in the area of disability rights
Events taking place during the 3rd Disability Rights Week - available soon
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

AMENDMENTS 549 - 865 - Draft report An EU health workforce crisis plan: sustainability of healthcare systems and employment and working conditions in the healthcare sector
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on Public Health
Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

AMENDMENTS 1 - 239 - Draft report An EU health workforce crisis plan: sustainability of healthcare systems and employment and working conditions in the healthcare sector
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Committee on Public Health
Loucas Fourlas, Ruggero Razza

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

REPORT on the EU strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities post-2024
Committee on Employment and Social Affairs
Rosa Estaràs Ferragut

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

This report, requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, examines EU progress on implementing UN CRPD Article 19. It synthesises the EU's 2015 and 2025 UN CRPD reviews, assesses implications of the proposed Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034 and evaluates Member States' efforts on deinstitutionalisation. Despite policy advances, institutionalisation, inadequate community-based services and lack of meaningful consultation persist. Clear definitions, a minimum dataset and CRPD-compliant investments are among the measures required to realise Article 19.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The Committee on Employment and Social Affairs discussed with Commissioner Glenn Micallef, responsible for Intergenerational Fairness, Youth, Culture and Sport, on 11 November the Commission’s priorities on youth policy, fairness between generations and improving working conditions for artists. The Commissioner also outlined work on intergenerational fairness, youth policy dialogues and building a resilient creative sector.
Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 11 November, as part of the European Parliament’s 6th Gender Equality Week, the EMPL Committee held a discussion with Ms Carlien Scheele, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), on the implementation of the Work-Life Balance Directive. Despite some progress in gender equality, women across the EU still face major disparities in employment, pay, pensions and care work, as they continue to shoulder most caregiving responsibilities.

The Directive, in force since 2019, aims to promote equal sharing of care duties through paternity, parental and carers' leave, and flexible work arrangements. As implementation across Member States remains uneven, the debate will highlight Parliament's role in ensuring that the Directive is brought into effect and its implementation has an impact.

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Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

On 10 November, the EMPL and FEMM Committees considered over 400 amendments to their joint draft report on gender pay and pension gaps in the EU. Despite progress, persistent inequalities remain due to pay disparities, career breaks and the undervaluation of female-dominated sectors.

The report calls for an ambitious EU action plan with measurable targets, stronger social protection, fair valuation of care work and gender-sensitive policies. Closing these gaps would strengthen social justice, boost GDP and enhance EU competitiveness.

Source : © European Union, 2025 - EP

The next EMPL meeting will be on 10 November 2025.
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