This Council of Europe initiative focuses on ensuring the electoral rights of persons with disabilities by promoting inclusive standards, guidance, and good practices. It addresses accessibility, legal safeguards, and institutional responsibilities in electoral processes. The resource complements EU frameworks and provides an additional European perspective relevant to SPARK’s policy recommendations

The EU Youth Strategy 2019–2027 provides a framework for supporting youth engagement, participation, and empowerment across Europe. It promotes inclusive participation through the “Engage, Connect, Empower” approach and highlights the importance of reaching young people facing barriers, including those with disabilities. The strategy is directly linked to SPARK’s objectives, as it encourages Member States to create accessible spaces and mechanisms for young people to influence policy and decision-making.

Article 29 of the CRPD establishes the right of persons with disabilities to participate in political and public life on an equal basis with others. It covers voting rights, eligibility for public office, and the obligation of states to ensure accessible voting procedures, facilities, and materials. This article provides the core international legal foundation for the SPARK project’s focus on inclusive political participation and serves as a key reference for national and European policy development.

The European Youth Portal is the European Commission’s main communication platform for young people. It provides information on youth participation opportunities, EU initiatives, and ways to engage in democratic life. The portal supports SPARK’s objectives by offering accessible entry points for young people and youth workers to learn about participation at local, national, and European levels.

This European Commission communication outlines the vision for a European Education Area, emphasising inclusion, equity, and participation as core principles. It highlights the role of education in preparing young people for active citizenship and democratic engagement. The document is relevant for SPARK as it supports the integration of inclusive civic education and lifelong learning approaches that empower young people with disabilities to participate fully in public life.

The EU Disability Strategy 2021–2030 sets out the European Union’s long-term framework for ensuring the full participation, equality, and inclusion of persons with disabilities. It addresses key areas such as accessibility, participation in democratic life, employment, education, and independent living. The strategy is highly relevant to the SPARK project as it explicitly recognises political participation as a fundamental right and calls on Member States to remove barriers that prevent people with disabilities, including young people with psychosocial disabilities, from engaging in civic and political processes.

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