Accessibility is a fundamental right and a prerequisite for equal participation in democratic life.
EFHOH expresses its concern that the 2026 State of the European Union (SOTEU) address, delivered by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, was broadcast without real-time captioning on the European Commission’s livestreaming platforms.
While the provision of International Sign interpretation is an important accessibility measure, it does not address the needs of deaf and hard of hearing people who rely on captioning to access spoken information. Different accessibility requirements must be met in parallel to ensure equal access for all.
Despite repeated calls from the deaf and hard of hearing community, EU institutions have yet to guarantee high-quality real-time captioning at major political events. As institutions committed to equality, inclusion, and accessibility, the European Commission and the European Parliament should ensure that their flagship events are accessible to all citizens.
The absence of accessible communication continues to limit the full participation of people with hearing loss in public and political life. Access to quality real-time captioning is a right protected under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), to which the European Union is a party.
EFHOH calls on EU institutions to take concrete action to ensure that future high-level events are accessible to all deaf and hard of hearing citizens.
