European Disability Forum Calls to Protect Budgets of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities from Major Cuts

The European Disability Forum (EDF) adopted an official resolution calling on the institutions of the European Union to protect the budget of the AgoraEU program, which is a key source of financial support for representative organizations of persons with disabilities.

The document, approved at an EDF board meeting in Dublin, emphasizes that the proposed reduction in civil society funding would jeopardize the very possibility of independent participation by persons with disabilities in policy-making at the European level.

Organizations of persons with disabilities play a fundamental role in ensuring democratic and inclusive political processes. According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, states are obligated to ensure close consultation and active involvement of persons with disabilities through their representative structures. However, the functioning of many of these organizations depends directly on stable multi-year operational grants from the EU, particularly under the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program, which will become part of the new AgoraEU regulation as the CERV+ strand. It is precisely this predictable funding that allows advocates to maintain internal expertise, consult regularly with their members, and independently participate in legislative monitoring-something physically impossible to achieve with short-term project funds.

Particular concern among advocates is raised by the proposal to reduce the overall AgoraEU budget by 30 percent within current negotiation processes. The EDF warns that such measures would cause long-term and potentially irreversible damage to civil society at a time when space for civic organizations and the protection of fundamental rights in Europe face growing pressure. The resolution separately highlights the critical importance of preserving funding for organizations defending the rights of women and girls with disabilities. This group faces an increased risk of discrimination and violence, and programs like CERV+ remain one of the few reliable sources of support for initiatives combating gender-based violence.

*AgoraEU – A European Union program proposed by the European Commission for funding during the 2028–2034 period. Its main task is to consolidate and strengthen support for culture, media, civil society, and democratic values. *CERV+ – An extended component of the new AgoraEU program, operating within the EU’s multiannual financial framework for 2028–2034. The primary goal of CERV+ is the protection and promotion of EU values, fundamental rights, and equality; strengthening democratic society, citizen participation, and active civil society. *EDF – The European Disability Forum. It brings together numerous national and European organizations of persons with disabilities from across Europe.