The European Semester plays an increasingly important role in shaping reforms in long-term care, housing, social services, disability, employment and social inclusion. These policy areas are fundamental to the transition from institutional to community-based support, making the Semester an important tool for assessing whether Member States are creating the conditions necessary for people to live independently and participate fully in their communities. 

In this new policy paper, the EEG analyses the 2026 European Semester Country Reports from a cross-sectoral perspective. Rather than focusing solely on explicit references to deinstitutionalisation, the paper examines whether the Semester captures the policies, reforms and investments needed to support community-based living across different population groups. 

The analysis finds that the European Semester increasingly addresses the core components of community-based support, including long-term care, housing, social services, disability, child protection and social inclusion. However, these reforms continue to be presented largely as separate sectoral priorities, with limited assessment of how they collectively contribute to the transition from institutional to community-based support. The paper also highlights the need for stronger monitoring, a clearer human rights focus in long-term care reforms and better assessment of the outcomes of EU-funded investments. 

The paper concludes with recommendations for strengthening the European Semester as a framework for monitoring progress towards community-based support, including the development of a coherent analytical framework, improved monitoring indicators, stronger links between EU funding and human rights objectives, and country-specific recommendations on the transition from institutional care to community-based support. 

Read the full policy paper here.