European Union of the Deaf

11/10/2026

🇧🇦 New EDSO Executive Board elected!

At the 24th General Assembly of the European Deaf Sport Organisation () in Sarajevo, delegates elected the new Board:

Iosif Stavrakakis – President
Norbert Hensen – Vice President
Burcu Piskin – Member
Iveta Kraze – Member
Gergely Tapolczai – Member

Congratulations to all! EUD President Sofia Isari was in Sarajevo representing EUD, and we look forward to working with the new Board to promote inclusive sport and deaf rights across Europe. 🤟

European Deaf Sport Organisation - EDSO

09/10/2026

Yesterday and today, our Executive Director Frankie Picron represented the European Union of the Deaf at the EU Disability Platform meeting.

The meeting was held online with a full turnout. For accessibility, with International Sign, Frankie was present in the room, the only participant there, while everyone else joined remotely.

Accessibility takes real effort, and it makes sure deaf people's voices are part of every discussion on disability rights.

09/10/2026

"We want to hear from more of you." 👋

Board member Mari Virtanen leads EUD's new Older Deaf Persons Expert Group, and we've extended the deadline.

Are you an older deaf person active in your community? Do you work with older deaf people or research ageing?

📧 Send a short email or a video in International Sign, with your CV, to [email protected]

📅 New deadline: 21 October 2026

Please share with your friends and your association! 🔁

09/10/2026

Deadline extended! ⏳

There's still time to express interest in EUD's Focus Groups:

LGBTIQ+
Ethnic Minorities
BIPOC

These groups have a dedicated place at EUD, and we want as many voices as possible from these communities.

Choose your group and email them directly: eud.eu/eud/focus-groups

📅 New deadline: 21 October 2026

08/10/2026

08/10/2026

Can you make a call, wherever you live?

Out of 30 countries we surveyed: 11 have both video and text relay services. 14 have video relay only. 1 has text relay only. 4 have neither confirmed.

Relay services let deaf and hard of hearing people call by video or text, just like anyone else. Where you live still decides if you can.

Follow this trend to see what “having a relay service” actually looks like, country by country.

Read the report: https://eud.eu/mapping-relay-services-in-europe-what-our-survey-of-30-countries-found/

07/10/2026

Can everyone in Europe make a call, no matter where they live?

Today we publish “Mapping Relay Services in Europe,” a joint EUD and EFHOH survey of video relay services and text relay services across 30 countries. April to May 2026.

Full report: https://eud.eu/mapping-relay-services-in-europe-what-our-survey-of-30-countries-found/

06/10/2026

A big thank you to the Irish Deaf Society! 🇮🇪💚

Thank you for hosting our Board in Dublin, and for a wonderful social evening at Whelan's. Our Board members loved meeting the Irish Deaf community and enjoying the Deaf theatre, storytelling and jokes.

Thank you too for your kind gifts of appreciation. We felt very welcome!

Go raibh maith agaibh!

03/10/2026

That's a wrap in Dublin! 🇮🇪

The new EUD Board has finished its first meeting since the elections in Cyprus. Productive days, great discussions and a strong start to the term.

A huge thank you to the Irish Deaf Society and Lianne Quigley for welcoming us to Deaf Village Ireland. Go raibh maith agaibh! 💚

02/10/2026

From Larnaca, Cyprus to Dublin, Ireland! 🇨🇾➡️🇮🇪

Elected in Cyprus, our new Board is now in Dublin for its first meeting.

We are honoured to be welcomed to Deaf Village Ireland by Lianne Quigley, Chairperson of the Irish Deaf Society. Thank you for your warm hospitality!