Disability and Independent Living, EU Report

Disability in the European Union

The European Commission estimates that currently approximately 87 million people in the EU live with one disabilityInequalities are persistent, given that:

• only half of people with disabilities are employed (compared to three-quarters of people without disabilities);

• 28,4% are at risk of poverty or social exclusion;

• 52% report having experienced discrimination.

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.

Independent living, the broken promise

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 gap at EU level between policy and practice

The UN CRPD Commission's reviews of EU policies and their implementation, in 2015 and 2025, reveal a persistent implementation gap. Key concerns include:

• the systematic misuse of EU structural funds to renovate or build residential care facilities ('institutionalisation'), rather than promoting independent living solutions, in breach of Article 19 of the Convention;

• insufficient accessibility in many areas of life;

• limited participation of people with disabilities in the decision-making process relating to solutions that directly affect them.

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 situation in Italy

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:

• un del% increase 56 of the number of minors in residential facilities (2010-2020);

• un del% increase 36 of adults in residential facilities (2011-2021);

• an estimate of 70.000 adults in residential facilities in 2021.

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.

Provisional conclusions

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.

#Égalité

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References

• Legislative Decree No. 62 of May 3, 2024. Definition of disability status, basic assessment, reasonable accommodation, and multidimensional assessment for the development and implementation of a personalized and participatory individual life plan. Legislation. https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2024-05-03;62

• European Commission. (n.d.). Persons with disabilities. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/persons-disabilities_en

• Šiška, J., & Beadle-Brown, J. (2025). Independent living of persons with disabilities in the European Union (PE 759.355). Policy Department for Structural and Cohesion Policies (CASP), European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document/CASP_STU(2025)759355