Brussels, 26th May 2025 – A new report launched today reveals how European Union funds are being used in ways that violate the fundamental rights of marginalised communities, including Roma people, persons with disabilities, and people with a migrant background. The report is based on six national reports on Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Poland, Hungary and Romania.
The report, prepared by Bridge EU, with the support of the Validity Foundation and the European Network on Independent Living, highlights serious shortcomings in the way EU funds are managed and monitored, supporting fundamental rights violations, despite existing legal safeguards.
“It is unacceptable that the money of European citizens is being used to finance human rights violations. The European Union must do better and ensure that no more EU funds support segregation.”
— Ines Bulic Cojocariu, Director, European Network on Independent Living – ENIL
The research points to wide range of cases where EU funds have financed harmful practices, and around 1.1 billion EUR was spent on these projects. The main findings include:
- Educational and housing segregation of Roma communities and children with disabilities and their families;
- Institutionalisation of people with disabilities, Roma children and family separation;
- Deprivation of liberty of people with a migrant background.
The European Network on Independent Living calls on national and EU authorities to take immediate steps to ensure EU funds contribute to inclusion and equal rights instead of discriminatory treatment.
The EU synthesis report is available on the Bridge EU website, along with the national reports, project examples and a summary report.
Notes to the editors
The ‘EU Funds for Fundamental Rights’ (FURI) project is a transnational initiative funded by the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme (grant agreement number 101143162 – FURI – CERV-2023-CHAR-LITI). It aims to ensure that EU funds are used in ways that respect and promote the rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
The project is coordinated by the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) and implemented in six EU countries, with the support of a thematic coordinator and international partners.
National partners:
- Awen Amenca in Czechia
- Greek Council of Refugees in Greece
- Partners Hungary Foundation in Hungary
- Policy Center for Roma and Minorities in Romania
- Network of Independent Experts in Bulgaria
- Instytut Niezaleznego Zycia in Poland
International partners:
Thematic coordination:
A total of 63 projects amounting to approximately 1,1 billion EUR funding were identified across the 6 countries. Special attention was paid to three groups disproportionately affected by rights violations: Roma communities, people with a migrant background, and persons with disabilities.
For press inquiries or to request an interview, please contact: Ines Bulic Cojocariu, ines.bulic@enil.eu, + 33 769 111 763
