The Council adopted Conclusions on the social inclusion of persons with disabilities through the promotion of independent living. This is an important step with the 27 Member States notably underlying: 

• The need for person-centred community support services such as personal assistance, supported decision-making, and support networks.
• The heightened risk of abuse and violence faced by women and girls with disabilities.
• The importance of quality employment and fair conditions in the care sector, alongside measures to support informal carers (e.g., respite rights and support services).
• The role of affordable assistive technologies in enabling independent living.

Key calls to Member States:

• Ensure access to affordable, person-centred support services.
• Provide training for service providers.
• Expand availability of accessible, inclusive, and safe housing to prevent homelessness and enable independent living.
• Take the approach reflected in the Commission’s Guidance on Independent Living and Inclusion in the Community, in particular regarding the effective use of EU funding to promote independent living for persons with disabilities.

Key calls to the European Commission:

• Integrate the Concluding observations on the combined second and third periodic reports of the European Union by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and maintain focus on independent living in the second half of the Disability Rights Strategy (2021–2030).
• Promote capacity building, mutual learning, and exchange of good practices between Member States, including on personal assistance and working conditions in the care sector.
• Mainstream disability measures in major EU strategies (e.g., European Preparedness Union Strategy, Affordable Housing Plan, Anti-Poverty Strategy, Action Plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights).

This is a strong signal from Member States on the role of disability support services in making independent living a reality.

However, the European Disability Forum, of which EASPD is a member, says the Conclusions is a “good diagnostics but no solutions”, noting that Member States avoided accountability and missed the opportunity to commit to stronger measures.