Demands of the European Network on Independent Living for the next 7 year EU-Budget
Until the end of 2027 the national governments and the European Parliament will decide on the 7 year EU-Budget which might have a budget of EUR 1,98 billion at its disposal. The outcome of this process will determine how nearly €2 billion are invested — and whether this money supports segregation or Independent Living.
EU money for institutions
ENIL regularly monitors the fundamental rights compliance of the EU-Budget. In the last two funding periods the European Union spent at least EUR 105,54 Million on the construction or renovation of 23 institutions.
For example:
- In Hungary EUR 61,7 million were spent on 35 group homes at various localities throughout the country
- In Poland EUR 4,31 million were spent on the construction and equipping of the residential and care complex Romanów Senior Citizens’ Home which provides 59 apartments
- In Bulgaria EUR 3,57 million were spent on building infrastructure, provide equipment, and furnish 14 centres for residential health and social services for children
These are not isolated cases but parts of a wider pattern. The confinement of a disabled person to an institution is a severe fundamental rights violation and against the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD). One of the most important objectives of our advocacy work is to end EU-spending on institutions.
EU money for Independent Living Services
However, EU funds can also make Independent Living a reality when invested correctly. Until 2028 Portugal will be receiving EUR 36 million from the European Social Fund Plus to provide personal assistance to disabled people. The overall project is receiving EUR 24,4 million. In addition, the Agarve-region is receiving EUR 2,7 million and Lisbon EUR 8,9 million. So far 1 124 disabled people have been supported in 35 Centres for Independent Living.
Our demand for the EU budget:
Cut all funding to institutions, increase investments in Independent Living
These investments are important but not sufficient to achieve Europe wide progress on deinstitutionalisation and ensuring adequate support for every disabled person.
Our most important demand is a complete redirection of funding away from disability services that segregate, into services that support Independent Living and an overall increase of investments. How can this be achieved?
The 27 EU-regulations that will provide the rules for the next EU-Budget have to:
1. Allocate EUR 143,8 billion for spending on equal treatment, fundamental rights and social objectives
2. Make the implementation of the UN CRPD and other policies in the area of fundamental rights a key objective
3. No spending about us without us: Make the involvement of organisations of persons with disabilities in the management of the EU-Budget compulsory
4. Ensure there is real accountability at all levels of government involved in the spending of EU-Funds
Why should the Member States and the EU follow our demands?
1. The EU is a state party to the UN CRPD
The UN CRPD mandates a redirection of funding. The Convention is part of the EU-legal order. Following it is mandatory.
2. The European Commission has itself recommended a redirection of funding
The European Commission Guidance to Member States on Independent Living and inclusion in the community has clearly recommended to fund community-based services, instead of institutions
3. Discrimination is financially unsustainable
Due to the high rates of institutionalisation, many countries spend high percentages of their national GDP, up to 4,4% in the case of the Netherlands on long-term care. The OECD calculated €0.84–1.42 billion in annual GDP losses and €302–493 million in lost tax revenue EU-wide due to the discrimination against disabled people
ENIL is producing detailed amendments to the regulations that will set the rules of the EU-Budget.
The amendments to the National Regional Partnership Plan Regulation are available as a word file here and as a pdf here.
