MEP Elena Kountoura (The Left) Presses Commission on Disability Gaps in Gender Equality Strategy

Greek MEP Elena Kountoura (The Left) has challenged the European Commission over what she calls the inadequate inclusion of women with disabilities in the Gender Equality Strategy 2026-2030, warning that the strategy lacks binding actions and largely ignores the multiple discriminations faced by this group. In a written parliamentary question submitted on 7 April 2026, Kountoura highlights that 26.2% of women in the EU live with some form of disability and face intersectional discrimination, including higher poverty and unemployment rates—only 20% work full-time and 16% report good health, compared to 50% and 83% for women without disabilities. She also notes that forced sterilisation of women with disabilities is prohibited in only nine Member States.

The question cites the European Disability Forum's condemnation of the strategy for containing only general references to disability without substantive measures. Kountoura asks the Commission whether it plans to introduce additional initiatives to ensure reasonable adjustments, improve access to health, employment, and inclusive education, and prohibit forced sterilisation across the EU. She also inquires about developing gender-disaggregated indicators for the rights of persons with disabilities, as requested by the European Parliament.

The Commission is expected to respond within approximately six weeks, and its answer will signal the policy direction on integrating disability rights into gender equality efforts. The question reflects a cleavage between the ambition of EU equality frameworks and the practical inclusion of marginalised groups, with potential impacts on women with disabilities (who would benefit from binding measures), EU institutions (which may face pressure to expand the strategy's scope), Member States (which would need to implement new requirements), and disability advocacy groups (which seek stronger commitments).