Disability Rights in Europe: How Can EU Law Make a Difference?

How does European Union law protect the rights of persons with disabilities? What role does the Court of Justice of the EU play in shaping disability rights across Member States? And why is it important to look at disability law through a truly European lens?

These questions are at the heart of the latest episode of the Arqus Knowledge Pills podcast, featuring Bernardo Cortese, professor of European Union law at the University of Padua.

In this episode, Bernardo Cortese discusses his recent publication on the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union in adapting EU employment equality law to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He explains why EU law should be understood as a multi-layered system, where courts, legislators and institutions interact to progressively strengthen fundamental rights.

The conversation also explores the most significant developments in EU disability law over the past decade, including advances in case law, legislation and soft law instruments. Special attention is given to particularly vulnerable groups, such as asylum seekers and third-country nationals with disabilities, who face multiple layers of discrimination and barriers to the protection of their dignity.

The speaker also reflects on how his personal experience as a parent of a child with a severe disability has shaped his research, offering a powerful example of how legal concepts translate into real-life challenges. The episode concludes with a discussion on the importance of building a European culture of inclusion, empowerment and collective representation, and on how EU law can influence national systems to promote meaningful change.

You can find the latest podcast episode here.