The European Expert Group on the transition from institutional to community-based support (EEG) has published a new set of recommendations for the Irish, Lithuanian and Greek Presidencies of the Council of the European Union. The recommendations come at the start of a new 18‑month Presidency programme and call on the three countries to make the move from institutional care to community-based support a key priority for human rights, equality and inclusion.

The EEG highlights six areas where the Presidencies can take action. These include supporting the EU Alliance for Independent Living, making sure future EU funding helps develop community-based support, improving monitoring and accountability, including deinstitutionalisation in the European Semester process, integrating it across different EU policies, and encouraging countries to learn from each other and share good practices.

Through these recommendations, the EEG aims to keep independent living and community inclusion high on the EU agenda and to encourage continued progress towards support systems that enable people to live, participate and be included in the community.

About EEG

EEG is the European Expert Group on the transition from institutions to community-based support is a coalition of organisations advocating to replace institutionalisation with family- and community-based support. EASPD is a full member.