European Economic and Social Committee's opinion on social inclusion and independent living through services

EESC calls for urgent reforms to close disability rights gaps and strengthen community-based services.

On 18 March 2026, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) adopted its opinion: Social inclusion and independent living for persons with disabilities through high-quality and specialized social services.

The EESC opinion highlights important concerns starting by an "evident and alarming" implementation gap between the EU’s commitments on disability rights and the daily reality experienced by millions of people with disabilities, as well as a continue and structural barriers faced by high-quality social services to bridging this gap.

Weak supported decision-making system across Europe

The EESC notes that many people with intellectual or psychosocial disabilities remain restricted or deprived of their legal capacity, despite the European Commission’s recognition of this issue. While organisations such as Mental Health Europe, Inclusion Europe and EASPD have shared guidance and good practices on supported decision-making, these efforts remain insufficiently embedded in EU policy and funding frameworks.

The EESC calls on Member States to undertake legislative reforms to move beyond substitute decision-making systems and ensure the full recognition of legal capacity for all persons with disabilities.

Slow progress of deinstitutionalisation

The Committee warns of political inertia, limited accessible housing, and the persistence of "transinstitutionalisation", where individuals are moved from large institutions to smaller facilities that nonetheless replicate institutional cultures.

The opinion also highlights the lack of reliable, disaggregated data on deinstitutionalisation, noting that persons with intellectual disabilities remain disproportionately affected.

The EESC calls for urgent improvements in data collection and for systematic monitoring of progress across EU strategies, including the Disability Rights Strategy, the Anti-Poverty Strategy, the European Child Guarantee and the Affordable Housing Plan.

Use of EU Funds

EU funds continue to be used to renovate or build segregated facilities. This can be attributed to insufficient monitoring and resistance from Member States for stricter safeguards (e.g. earmarked funding).

The Committee recommends establishing earmarked quotas of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund+ (ESF+) for the development of community-based services and accessible housing and supporting specifically the transition to supported decision-making.

Social Services of Excellence: A framework at risk of remaining theoretical

The EESC welcomes the development of the Framework for Social Services of Excellence, a flagship initiative of the Disability Rights Strategy. It emphasises that high-quality services rely on user-led models, personal budgets, independent living centres, peer support and empowerment-based approaches.

However, the Committee warns that without systemic reform, adequate funding, improved working conditions and investment in the social services workforce, the framework risks remaining “a theoretical exercise”. It calls for linking the framework to ESF+ funding streams to support transformation and capacity-building.

What now?

The EESC opinion offers timely guidance as the European Commission advances work on the long-awaited Framework for Social Services of Excellence.

The opinion echoes multiple points that EASPD has long emphasised. EASPD has contributed to the development of the future framework by organising a dedicated conference, conducting an in-depth study on innovative quality measurement approaches, and convening a European taskforce of national and local stakeholders to draft concrete recommendations.