

A recent study by the European Parliament (Šiška et al., 2025) shows how the right of people with disability to receive support to conduct a independent living – although stated in the UN Convention for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which the European Union ratified in 2010 – remains a broken promise to the detriment of millions of people, with significant disparities among member states. The situation in Italy is dire, pending the concrete implementation of the "disability reform" introduced with Legislative Decree no. 62/2024.
The European Commission estimates that currently approximately 87 million people in the EU live with one disabilityInequalities are persistent, given that:
The cornerstone of the rights of persons with disabilities in the EU is the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD), ratified by the EU and all its member states.
Article 19 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child establishes the right of persons with disabilities to live independently, be included in the community, and have the freedom to choose where and with whom they live, with access to necessary support services.
The UN CRPD Commission's reviews of EU policies and their implementation, in 2015 and 2025, reveal a persistent implementation gap. Key concerns include:
La European Commission, in his 2023 response, pointed to policy advances such as the European Accessibility Act , Strategy for the rights of people with disabilities 2021-2030. Recognizing however that the responsibility in the 'shared management' of the funds falls mainly on the Member states, while civil society organizations reiterate that consultation mechanisms remain insufficient and ineffective.
The European Parliament study considers the state of implementation of Article 19 of the UN Convention in the 27 EU Member States. The situation in Italy, as in many other countries, reflects the main concerns outlined in the report. personal data Italians are rather alarming, since it is recorded:
La transition to adulthood It's a critical element of failure. While minors can be supported in families or foster care, their segregation in large residential institutions upon turning 18 often becomes the default option, especially for those with intellectual disabilities.
Although Italy has introduced concepts such as the 'Life Project' personalized – with the 'disability reform' (Legislative Decree 62 / 2024) and some regional pilot projects for independent living, the remains fragmentedThere is no comprehensive national deinstitutionalization strategy with binding targets. The UN Committee had already criticized Italy in the past for maintaining a medical model of disability and for uneven access to services between regions.
The EU report paints a picture of slow and uneven progressAlthough a solid regulatory framework exists at the EU level, its translation into tangible rights and housing solutions for people with disabilities is severely lagging. Member States like Italy continue to rely heavily on the "institutionalization" of those eligible, that is, their placement in residential facilities, often with the support of EU funds themselves.
The next EU budget 2028-2034 This represents a crucial opportunity to enforce stricter conditions on the management of public funds and redirect investments toward genuine community inclusion. Without a concrete political commitment to the effective implementation of Article 19 of the CRPD and the necessary resources, measurable national strategies, and the dismantling of institutional models, the right to independent living proclaimed by the UN will remain a mirage.

Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.