The European Economic and Social Committee has highlighted key challenges in advancing deinstitutionalisation across the European Union in its recent opinion (2025).
The opinion points to persistent gaps in the use of EU funding and calls for stronger action to ensure that funding contributes to social inclusion and independent living.
In particular, it highlights:
- the continued use of EU funds for institutional and segregating settings,
- the need for stronger safeguards, monitoring and accountability,
- and insufficient investment in community-based services and housing.
Together with recent developments in the European Parliament, this reinforces a growing consensus at EU level: EU funding must support independent living — not segregation.
For the EEG, this represents an important momentum in the lead-up to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2028–2034). The EEG will continue working with partners to ensure that these priorities are reflected in future EU funding regulations and implementation.
EEG. The European Expert Group on the transition from institutions to community-based support 