Make your voice heard! Fight for your rights!
We live in a time where many decision makers are abandoning policies that support Independent Living and return to the old solutions that rely on segregation and keeping disabled people passive. In some places, positive reforms are still taking place. For example Croatia and Malta are working on personal assistance reforms.
That shows that positive change is still possible. Be courageous and stand together with us, fighting for your rights. Use the Freedom Drive to undertake advocacy work.
We have formulated demands for policy and legislative change. The Freedom Drive 2026 Demands are available here.
What can you do with the Freedom Drive demands?
1. If your country is a Member of the European Union
In the EU, laws are voted on by Members of the European Parliament (MEP) and representatives of national governments. Those people decide whether the EU will invest in Independent Living or not, whether housing will be built according to universal design standards or disabled women will receive better protection from violence.
Set up meetings with Members of the European Parliament and the delegations of your national governments. Present them our Freedom Drive Demands or policy demands you are bringing with you. Be polite but tell them clearly what´s at stake. Make sure to tell them who ENIL is.
The Freedom Drive Demands are available here.
To help you set-up a meeting, we are providing some support materials.
Meeting Members of the European Parliament
First, you will find lists of Members of the European Parliament. In a parliament, members form committees that specialise on certain topics. We have prepared lists of parliamentarians pertaining to committees that are of special relevance to our work. We recommend you focus on meeting MEPs from the following committees:
Of course, you can also meet with MEPs from any other committee.
Meeting delegations of national governments
National governments hold substantial amounts of power, more so than MEPs. We are encouraging you to make contact and ask for a meeting.
Here we have a prepared a list with contact details of all delegations.
Please inform us about successfully set-up meetings. You can do so by filling out this form or by adding our Policy Coordinator Florian in cc. if you want. You could also contact him afterwards to give some feedback on how the meeting went. It would be appreciated. We will also provide a link to a database which contains all MEPs who currently have a seat in the European Parliament.
Second, we will provide a letter template which you can use to contact MEPs. You can adjust it, so it fits your purpose.
2. If your country is an EU-accession country
If your country is an EU-accession country, it has to implement all existing EU legislation to become a member. Request meetings with the national delegations of your governments in Brussels and discuss which policy changes you would like to see in your country.
All contacts are available in the same list as for EU member state delegations.
An email/letter template is available below.
3. If your country falls under the EU neighbourhood policy or is part of the European Economic area
Check if your country falls under the EU neighbourhood policy. Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are part of the European Economic area.
The European Union is seeking close cooperation with these countries. Arrange meetings with your national delegations and discuss how you envision relations between your country and the EU on disability.
All contacts are available in the same list as for EU member state delegations.
An email/letter template is available below.
4. If you are from any other country around the globe
The EU is seeking good diplomatic relations and constructive partnerships with all countries around the globe. We encourage you to arrange meeting with embassies of your country in Brussels and share your ideas for relations and cooperation with the European Union and individual countries.
Please accept that we cannot provide contact details for all embassies in Brussels. Browse the internet.
Modify the email/letter template below according to your needs.
Letter templates
Letter template to contact MEPs
Dear Ms/Mr [MEP’s name]
My name is [Your name] and I live in [country]. I am writing to you as a member of [add local organisation, if relevant] and the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), a Europe-wide organisation of disabled people.
From the 29 September to the 1 October [I and/or a delegation of my organisation] will be in Brussels for the Freedom Drive. The Freedom Drive is a festival for empowerment and change with participants from all over Europe, organised by ENIL.
We want a future where disabled people can live independently and enjoy equality and inclusion. To bring that future about, we have adopted policy demands.
During our time in Brussels [I and or our group] would like meet with you or a member of your team to present and discuss those policy demands which reflect the wishes for change we as disabled people hold.
The Freedom Drive brings together disabled people, activists, their friends, and allies from across Europe. It provides supporters of the Independent Living Movement with the unique opportunity to meet EU-level decision makers to discuss the policy issues that matter to them.
As a member of the European Parliament, your work is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by people with disabilities and advancing their right to living independently.
[I, and/ or my organisation] would like an opportunity to present the ENIL Freedom Drive Demands and other topics that matter to us to you. We are proposing to meet on the [enter date] from [enter time] to [enter time].
Thank you for considering my request, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss these important matters with you. You may reach me at [email] [phone number]
Kind regards,
[Your name/ and organisations name]
Letter template to contact national delegations of EU countries
National delegations are headed by a civil servant with ambassador status. Ambassadors of a country to the EU are called Permanent Representatives.
Do not hesitate to address your email to the Permanent Representative. Even if the head of your delegation will not receive you in person, support from the top will smoothen your visit.
Contact your delegation in your national language.
Dear Ms/Mr Permanent Representative [enter the name,]
My name is [Your name] and I am from [enter the region or town you are from]. I am writing to you as a member of [add local organisation, if relevant] and the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), a Europe-wide organisation of disabled people.
From the 29 September to the 1 October [I and/or a delegation of my organisation] will be in Brussels for the Freedom Drive. The Freedom Drive is a festival for empowerment and change with participants from all over Europe, organised by ENIL.
We want a future where disabled people can live independently and enjoy equality and inclusion. To bring that future about, we have adopted policy demands.
During our time in Brussels [I and or our group] would like meet with you or a member of your team to present and discuss those policy demands which reflect the wishes for change we as disabled people hold.
The Freedom Drive brings together disabled people, activists, their friends, and allies from across Europe. It provides supporters of the Independent Living Movement with the unique opportunity to meet EU-level decision makers to discuss the policy issues that matter to them.
Your work as Permanent Representative of [enter your country], is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by people with disabilities and advancing their right to living independently.
[I, and/ or my organisation] would like an opportunity to present the ENIL Freedom Drive Demands and other topics that matter to us to you. We are proposing to meet on the [enter date] from [enter time] to [enter time].
Thank you for considering my request, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss these important matters with you. You may reach me at [email] [phone number]
Kind regards,
[Your name/ and organisations name]
Letter template to contact national delegations of European non-EU countries
Dear Ms/Mr Ambassador [enter the name,]
My name is [Your name] and I am from [enter the region or town you are from]. I am writing to you as a member of [add local organisation, if relevant] and the European Network on Independent Living (ENIL), a Europe-wide organisation of disabled people.
From the 29 September to the 1 October [I and/or a delegation of my organisation] will be in Brussels for the Freedom Drive. The Freedom Drive is a festival for empowerment and change with participants from all over Europe, organised by ENIL.
We want a future where disabled people can live independently and enjoy equality and inclusion. To bring that future about, we have adopted policy demands.
During our time in Brussels [I and or our group] would like meet with you or a member of your team to present and discuss those policy demands which reflect the wishes for change we as disabled people hold.
The Freedom Drive brings together disabled people, activists, their friends, and allies from across Europe. It provides supporters of the Independent Living Movement with the unique opportunity to meet EU-level decision makers to discuss the policy issues that matter to them.
Your work as Ambassador of [enter your country], is crucial in addressing the challenges faced by people with disabilities and advancing their right to living independently.
[I, and/ or my organisation] would like an opportunity to present the ENIL Freedom Drive Demands and other topics that matter to us to you. We are proposing to meet on the [enter date] from [enter time] to [enter time].
Thank you for considering my request, and I look forward to the opportunity to discuss these important matters with you. You may reach me at [email] [phone number]
Kind regards,
[Your name/ and organisations name]