EU citizens with disabilities are one of the largest groups of disadvantaged citizens: according to the European Disability Forum they number almost 50 million. Despite developments since 2003 - European Year of People with Disabilities - their full participation in society has not reached a desired level. The European Commission is about to launch a new EU Disability Strategy 2010-2020 to replace the current Disability Action Plan.

ESN took part in a recent consultation on this future strategy. John Halloran, director of ESN, said: “We welcome this development and the recognition that Europe must do more for people with disabilities. As senior public services professionals, we are happy to support the Commission and specifically the Unit Integration of People with Disabilities with our expertise and practice-based experience.”

ESN urges the Commission in its contribution to pay special attention to the issues of deinstitutionalisation and community care development. Their relevance should be reflected in a special section of the future Strategy together with a clear commitment to move from out-dated passive forms of residential care to modern, empowering community-based care. ESN also calls on the Commission to encourage the Member States to provide more data regarding capacity, number of users and the real cost of residential and community care.

Finally, ESN reaffirms that the EU structural funds should not be granted to projects related to building and renovation of large institutions. "We cannot have a situation where EU money is used to perpetuate social exclusion," says John Halloran.

Find out more about the EU disability-related work click HERE. Read full text of ESN contribution to the consultation.