Lighthouse Network Policy Atelier – Session 1: Understanding the current political moment 

9 September 2026 | 14:00–15:30 | Online 

European political priorities are changing, with increasing attention to competitiveness, security and other pressures alongside social inclusion and disability rights. These developments can affect the environment in which disability organisations work and the space available to advance inclusive policies. 

For EASPD members, understanding these changes is an important part of effective advocacy. What do current political developments mean for disability rights? Where are the risks, and where can opportunities for action emerge? 

The EASPD Policy Impact Group organised a policy atelier in three sessions to discuss and get tools to better navigate this political moment. The first online session will explore the current political context in Europe and consider how organisations can respond to uncertainty while continuing to advance disability rights. It will also look at how innovation can help organisations maintain and mainstream approaches that support inclusion, even when the wider context is changing. 

This session will: 

• explore the key political developments shaping the European context; 

• discuss the risks and opportunities they create for disability rights and inclusive support; 

• consider how organisations can identify opportunities for advocacy and action; and 

• explore how innovation can help sustain progress in uncertain times. 

Speakers 

Matteo Vespa, Civil Society Europe, Introduction to the current political moment in Europe 

Luís Torrents, Times of uncertainty as an opportunity: keeping alive and mainstreaming innovation projects 

Register by 7 September EOB

Reserved for EASPD members only.