That is correct. But will actions follow? (Don’t hold your breath.)
The Council of the European Union is where national governments meet to discuss and make decisions.
On 17 October 2025, the social ministers of national governments agreed on a document about independent living of people with disabilities. This document is callled conclusions on social inclusion of persons with disabilities through the promotion of independent living.
What the problem is
The Council of the European Union recognises institutionalisation of people with disabilities as an important problem:
“It is estimated that more than one million persons with disabilities aged under 65, and more than two million persons with disabilities over 65, lived in institutions in the EU according to 2020 research.
“Member States are at different stages in developing conditions for independent living.
“Many persons with disabilities still face barriers to fully exercising their right to choose and have control over decisions concerning their lives, including where, how and with whom they live.
“There is therefore a need for further efforts at both the EU and national level, to ensure the full enjoyment by persons with disabilities of their right to live in the community on an equal basis with others.”
What should be done
The Council of the European Union says EU countries should:
- Develop or improve measures for the promotion of independent living of persons with disabilities
- Support interventions to enable persons with disabilities to live independently in the community, including by ensuring the availability of accessible, affordable and nonsegregated places of residence and the support necessary to allow for independent living, while respecting individual choices and taking into account individual circumstances and needs.
- Enhance consultation with and promote the active involvement of persons with disabilities at all levels in the development, implementation and monitoring of actions and policies that concern them, including through their representative organisations.
- Promote access to and affordability of person-centred support services, such as personal assistance, assistive technology, accessible information and communication technologies and services, supported decision making and organised support systems (e.g. peer support, centres for independent living and supported living arrangements).
- Ensure that services available to the general population are also available, accessible, affordable, inclusive and adaptable for persons with disabilities.
- Provide training for service providers to facilitate person-centred support and service provision in the community, with the aim of supporting independent living in accordance with the UNCRPD.
- Inform persons with disabilities, including current residents of institutions and their families, of their rights, entitlements and options as regards places of residence and offer the necessary support and guidance in the decision-making process, including through individual plans and case management.
- Increase, where necessary, the availability of affordable, accessible, inclusive, non-segregated and safe places of residence in communities so as to prevent homelessness and housing deprivation and facilitate independent living.
Reactions
“I just hope the good words in the Council document don’t stay just that – words,” says Milan Šveřepa, Chief Executive of Inclusion Europe. “They must become real work, so that all people can have a good life included in the community.
“I’m reading the document on my way back from Timisoara, Romania, where we spend 3 days together with people who lived in institutions and those supporting them to have a good life included in the community.
“They speak of their experiences of abuse and violence. They talk about their friends that are still in institutions. (16,000 people in Romania, 800.000 in Europe.)
“They also talk about their doubts whether the governments and service providers actually want to make these changes, to implement the kind of policies described in the Council conclusions.
And some of the language of the document, the way it refuses to commit to specific actions, doesn’t encourage optimism.”
European Disability Forum isn’t impressed either
EDF said in their reaction:
- The Conclusions present a clear view of the issues with independent living, but they do not provide many solutions.
- EU countries recognise the importance of personal assistance, supported decision-making, the need to support carers and the increased risks of violence and abuse for women and girls with disabilities.
- They refuse to mention that many countries have more people institutionalised now than a decade ago. They also ignored proposals to earmark EU funds, and to make use of EU funds conditional to support of best practices.
“While the Council Conclusions do accurately reflect many of the things the disability movement is calling for, the Member States have clearly tried to let themselves off the hook: both in terms of admitting their own shortcomings, and in terms of committing to concrete actions that would pave the way for improvements.”
EU and deinstitutionalisation
Learn more about the European Union and about deinstitutionalisation in our video: