Social inclusion and independent living for persons with disabilities through high quality and specialized social services

Key points

The EESC:

• notes that existing data highlight a continuing trend towards institutionalisation;

• considers, it necessary to adopt a binding directive that translates Article 19 of the UNCRPD into specific requirements, clearly defining ‘institution’ and ‘community-based service’, and to address the issue of trans-institutionalisation. In parallel, there is a need for mandatory national de-institutionalisation strategies with dedicated budgets, deadlines and measurable indicators, co-designed with disabled people’s organisations (DPOs);

• calls for the inclusion of a reference to de-institutionalisation in the affordable housing plan, the integration of accessibility requirements into all EU‑funded housing investments, the development of national strategies for accessible housing and stronger synergies between the ESF+, ERDF and InvestEU to scale up community‑based supported housing solutions;

• reiterates the need to revise the Commission proposal for a regulation on the international protection of adults¹, according to the CRPD (specifically Articles 12 and 19) as its primary legal reference;

• calls for the safeguard clauses to be maintained and reinforced in the future MFF 2028-2034 and for the issue of European funds to be subject to conditions to ensure that they  do not end up financing segregating environments instead. 

                1)   OJ C, C/2024/1581, 5.3.2024, ELI.