On 2 October, the European Parliament provided a platform for representatives of people with hearing loss to engage with EU decision-makers on how European policies can more effectively support inclusion and accessibility. The event, titled “Rights in Focus: Addressing Inclusion of Hard of Hearing Europeans”, was organised by the European Federation of Hard of Hearing People (EFHOH) and the Association of the European Hearing Aid Professionals (AEA), with the support of MEP Katrin Langensiepen (The Greens/EFA). Bringing together policymakers, researchers, and civil society actors, the discussion examined current challenges faced by hard of hearing citizens across Europe and explored ways to ensure equal access, opportunity, and participation through coordinated EU action.
A call for meaningful inclusion
Opening the event, MEP Katrin Langensiepen – a long-standing advocate for disability rights and inclusion in the European Parliament – reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities. Langensiepen, who played a key role in shaping the AccessibleEU Centre’s mandate during the previous legislative term, called for continued political focus on making accessibility a reality in daily life across the Union.
She pointed to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which legally obliges the EU and its Member States to promote and protect equal rights for persons with disabilities, and the EU Accessibility Act, which establishes common accessibility standards for products and services throughout Europe. Reflecting on these frameworks, Langensiepen stressed that inclusion should not be treated as a favour, but as a fundamental right, reminding participants:
“Inclusion is not a favour; you are not a benefit.”
Her remarks set the tone for an engaging and solutions-focused debate on how to maintain momentum in implementing accessibility legislation and ensuring that policy commitments translate into real societal change.
Expert perspectives on employment and accessibility
The expert panel brought together Lidia Best (EFHOH), Ricard Lopez (EdbN), Mark Laureyns (AEA), Laure Jacquemin (University of Antwerp), and Alejandro Moledo (European Disability Forum).
Discussions examined the position of hard of hearing individuals in the European labour market, with data showing that people with disabling hearing loss are three times more likely to be non-employed than the general population. This finding reinforced the importance of workplace accessibility, inclusive recruitment practices, and continued investment in hearing care and rehabilitation.
Speakers also reflected on the broader policy environment and the need for greater cooperation between policymakers, professionals, and the hearing device industry to advance accessibility. Consistently implementing accessibility standards, creating wider awareness of hearing health, and encouraging technological innovation were identified as key priorities to support hard-of-hearing persons’ participation in the labour force across Europe.
EU policy perspective
Representing the European Commission, Monika Chaba (DG EMPL) outlined the EU’s ongoing initiatives to promote the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities under the EU Disability Rights Strategy 2021–2030. She highlighted how the Strategy provides a long-term framework to ensure equal access to employment, education, and public life, building on key legislative pillars such as the European Accessibility Act. She reaffirmed that a lot more work has to be done: Disability inclusion must be integrated into all EU policies – social, digital, and industrial – to ensure that accessibility becomes a shared European value rather than a sectoral objective.
Towards a more inclusive Europe
The Rights in Focus event made clear that achieving genuine inclusion for hard of hearing citizens will require sustained engagement from all actors: EU institutions, national authorities, professionals, and the hearing care industry. Progress depends not only on creating policies, but also on enforcing them effectively, continuous technological innovation, and awareness at every level of society.
