A recent visit to Brussels involving representatives from Unapei (COFACE member) has opened up several opportunities for closer cooperation, with a particular focus on intellectual disabilities, employment, social policy, the European Semester and EU funds.
The visit provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and discuss how the realities faced by people with intellectual disabilities and their families can be better reflected in broader European socio-economic policies.
Different points were discussed including the next 7-year budget of the EU, the 2026 Country-Specific Recommendations for France, the indicators of the EU social scoreboard (e.g. on the disability employment gap), support to workers with disabilities (including through adapted work enterprises) and family carers of children and adults with intellectual disabilities, as well as disability rights mainstreaming in the European Semester and EU funds, in line with the UNCRPD.
COFACE will continue to bring the realities of different families to EU policy makers.
