Peter Agius is appointed as the EPP rapporteur on the European Union Strategy for More Rights for Persons with Disabilities

MEP Peter Agius has tabled a comprehensive set of 14 amendments to reinforce the European Parliament’s resolution on the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities post-2024, underlining the EU’s responsibility to uphold dignity, inclusion, and equality for all its citizens.

Dr Agius was appointed as the EPP Rapporteur by two committees – the Committee on Petitions (PETI) and the Committee on Public Health (SANT) – so that the European Parliament adopts a resolution to strengthen the rights of persons with disabilities. Peter Agius’s role aims to ensure that persons with disabilities enjoy all fundamental rights, including the right to work, to participate in the social and political life of their country, and even to form a family.

He emphasized that access to these rights must be considered as essential EU freedoms.

Among the key proposals, Agius called for the integration of disability-specific initiatives into the EU’s AI and digital transformation agenda. His amendments encourage leveraging technologies such as speech recognition to improve communication for persons with hearing and speech impairments.

Recognizing the importance of civic participation, Agius proposed measures to promote the involvement of persons with disabilities not only as voters but also as candidates. He called on the European Commission to assess and act upon the 2024 election outcomes to further enable electoral inclusion.

Further amendments stress the need for inclusive education from early childhood through to higher education, and for equipping educators with inclusive teaching methodologies. Agius also highlighted the vital role of family and informal carers, urging for their recognition and support within national and EU frameworks.

Accessibility is a core theme running through Agius’ proposals, with specific references to physical access, readable labels, and design for all, including through initiatives like the New European Bauhaus. He also advocated for stronger involvement of the Disability Platform and representative organisations in legislative processes, rooted in the principle of “nothing about us without us.”

“These proposals are about turning promises into practical action,” Agius stated. “The EU must lead by example, embedding accessibility and inclusion across every policy, and empowering persons with disabilities to shape the decisions that affect their lives.”

The proposed amendments form part of the ongoing debate on strengthening the EU’s commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ensuring that every European, regardless of ability, can thrive in an inclusive society.

MEP Peter Agius is now also launching an open online public consultation with the aim of allowing persons with disabilities themselves to provide feedback and contribute to the changes they consider necessary in matters that affect their daily lives.

You can access the online public consultation here: https://forms.gle/cD8LXEGiofbsRxcBA