Poster for Independent Living Day 2026 taking place on 5 May 2026, 13:00–16:30 CET, in Brussels and online. Includes a portrait of Jo Minchin, Director and European Liaison at the National Autistic Taskforce UK. EU co-funding logos appear at the bottom.

Meet the third European Independent Living Day speaker: Jo Minchin

Assuming speech equals understanding leads to:

👉wrong legal "capacity" assessments
👉 misinformed and potentially abusive decisions

📅 13:00 CET
📍 Hybrid (online & in Brussels)

👉See the agenda & register here: shorturl.at/Z0mPJ

White man on a blue background. On the top of the image it is written: Independent Living Day 2026 5 may 2026 13:00-16:30 CET in brussels and online. On the bottom it is written: Nicolas Joncour. ENIL youth Board.

📣 Say hi to one of our Independent Living Day 2026 speakers
Nicolas Joncour - a self-advocate from CLE Autistes and a board member from ENIL youth

📅 5th of May, 13:00–16:16 CET

👉Register: shorturl.at/x0B0I

📢Meet our first Independent Living Day 2026 speaker @soufianeelamrani.bsky.social - self-advocate, accessibility and Easy To Read Expert and promoter of the rights of people with intellectual disabilities.

📅 5th of May, 13:00–16:16 CET

👉Register: shorturl.at/LapYu

Poster for our Independent Living Day Event

Logos of the partner organsations of our advocacy coalition

Join our Independent Living Day event 2026 on access to the right to legal capacity!

Disabled people across Europe are still under threat from guardianship and forced institutionalisation

We want to generate new impulses for reform.

Registrations are open:

enil.eu/event/regist...

For the right to legal capacity! New joint position paper adopted - ENIL Joint Position and Red Lines for Trilogue on the Proposed Regulation on Protection of Adults in Cross-Border Situations The full text of the position ...

Our fight for the right of legal capacity continues!

To MEPs Toom, Smiszek and Strik:

- Don't relent! Ensure there is no substitute decision making

To the @cy2026eu.bsky.social:

- Join the push for supported decision making

enil.eu/for-the-righ...

Florian Sanden, ENIL's policy coordinator, stands side by side with MEP Daniel Freund while the MEP is holding ENIL's amendments. They are both smiling at the camera.

Florian Sanden, ENIL's policy coordinator, is shaking hands with MEP Daniel Freund.

We need a more transparent EU budget!

ENIL met with MEP @danielfreund.bsky.social.

We want better monitoring of EU funding and indicators on:
- EU funding for institutions
- EU funding for personal assistance

MEP Freund agreed to add this to the list of issues @greens-efa.eu would defend.

ENIL's Policy Coordinator Florian Sanden and ENIL's Co-Production Officer Veronika Kovács stand side by side with the head of office of MEP Ciaran Mullooly. Everyone is smiling in the direction of a camera

On Monday ENIL met with the office of MEP @ciaranmulloolymep.bsky.social to discuss the EU affordable housing plan.

We demanded:
- Universal Design as a housing standard
- Better access to independent living services.

The MEP's office showed interest. Both sides agreed on further cooperation.

A featured image showing megaphones

ENIL launches the EUFunds4IL Coalition

We are campaigning for an EU Budget without segregation. We need to show decision-makers that we have broad support.

Join our new Coalition, endorse our amendments and help us produce more. Every endorsement helps.

Find all info:

enil.eu/enil-launche...

Statement on International Women’s Day

Recognise the barriers faced by disabled women and girls!

For the EU Gender Equality Strategy we demand:

- End institutionalisation and ensure the right to live independently in the community

- End gender-based violence

enil.eu/enil-stateme...

A painting of the Face to Face meeting

These days ENIL is having its annual planning meeting.

This year you can expect from us:

- The best Freedom Drive yet
- A more intersectionally inclusive network than ever
- Advocacy campaigns that deliver true change

Below you find a naturalistic impression of our meeting

Stop segregation now! For an EU-Budget in support of Independent Living - ENIL Demands of the European Network on Independent Living for the next 7 year EU-Budget Until the end of 2027 the national governments and the ...

We want an EU-Budget without segregation!

FURI exposed institutions funded with €105M.

Our demands:
• €143.8B for rights & social inclusion
• Disability spending guided by UN CRPD
• Invest in personal assistance
• “Nothing about us without us”
• Real accountability

Details: lnkd.in/ew_EeiqP

Cover of the joint statement

Against coercion in mental healthcare!

Together with eight NGOs, we call on the Council of Europe to halt the ratification of the additional protocol to the Oviedo Convention.

Lets invest in community-based mental health support.

www.edf-feph.org/publications...

For an EU budget that supports Independent Living!

Today ENIL Policy Coordinator Florian Sanden and MEP Katrin Langensiepen met to discuss the need for more spending for Independent Living in the next EU budget.

Both sides agreed on key concerns and will coordinate their work.

You can access our written input here:
ec.europa.eu/info/law/bet...

You can access our full input here:

enil.eu/wp-content/u...

ENIL submitted its contribution to the public consultation on the EU Disability Strategy

To stop institutionalisation and discrimination we demand:

- A co-production role on EU funding
- Coordination on services
- The ratification of the optional protocol to the UN CRPD

Is Bulgaria really an example of independent living in Europe? YouTube video by European Network on Independent Living - ENIL

New video out!

EU funds, small group homes, and why “deinstitutionalisation” is not delivering independent living in Bulgaria 🇧🇬

🔗 Watch here: youtu.be/qkttFRSF2ns

Webinar: Launch of the report "I'm here for life" - ENIL Webinar: Launch of the report “I’m here for life” – Study visit on the (mis)use of EU funding to advance deinstitutionalisation in Bulgaria When? ...

🚨 Today!

Launch of the report “I’m here for life” on EU funding & deinstitutionalisation in Bulgaria.

🕒 15:00–16:30 CET, Online
👉 Register: enil.eu/event/webina...

What About Disabled Parents? – ENIL Talkshow EP.01 YouTube video by European Network on Independent Living - ENIL

What does it mean to be a parent and a disabled person in today’s Europe? 🤔🇪🇺

🎙️ ENIL Talkshow EP.01 with Elizabeth Gosme (COFACE_EU) and @kamiloulis on parenting, disability & politics.

▶️ youtu.be/f_ZZ-N41aZ4

The institution was my home, the small group home is my home. I'm here for life.

“I’m here for life.”

Join the launch of our new report on EU funding and institutionalisation in Bulgaria.

📅 14 Jan, 15:00 CET
🔗 us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

Webinar: Launch of the report "I'm here for life" - ENIL Webinar: Launch of the report “I’m here for life” – Study visit on the (mis)use of EU funding to advance deinstitutionalisation in Bulgaria When? ...

Are EU funds really supporting #deinstitutionalisation?

Join us on 14 Jan for the launch of “I’m here for life” — a report on the misuse of EU funding in Bulgaria and why independent living still isn’t delivered.

🕒 15:00 CET, Online
🔗Register: enil.eu/event/webina...

Youth café, 20 December from 11:00 to 12:30 CET.

🎄☕ ENIL Youth Café – Christmas Edition

Young disabled people are welcome! Join us to reflect on the year and play CRPD Christmas Bingo!

📅 20 Dec | 11:00–12:30 CET
♿ ISL + live captions

🔗Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Messages of ENIL co-chair Nadia Hadad at the #EDPD2025

No more EU Funding for institutions!

Implement the 18 Pillars of IL now!

Access to our FURI report is available here: www.bridge-eu.org/furi

Access to our input to the EU Disability Strategy here: enil.eu/wp-content/u...

Tackling the cost of discrimination - ENIL On 3 December 2025, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, ENIL calls on decision-makers on the EU and the national level to step ...

🚨Today is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

ENIL warns that discrimination is rising — from #institutionalisation to #poverty and #exclusion

🔗Read more: enil.eu/tackling-the...

Photo of a man speaking into a microphone

Discussion between two panelist during the event

We presented our Independent Living Survey 2024 at the European Platform for Rehabilitation event:

Independent Living remains out of reach, and Europe must step up.

- Invest in personal assistance
- community support
- real inclusion.

Independent Living is a right!

#IndependentLiving #ENIL

Autism, Independent Living and Segregation – with Heta Pukki YouTube video by European Network on Independent Living - ENIL

Interview with Heta Pukki who was representing the European Council of Autistic People (NGO based in Czechia). @enil-eu.bsky.social youtu.be/S5IMasi25TQ?...

Independent Living Services Must Become a Priority in the EU Disability Strategy 2026–2030 - ENIL This week, the European Network on Independent Living held a policy debate titled “Make Independent Living Services a priority in the EU Disability Strategy”. ...

Independent Living must be at the heart of the next EU Disability Strategy 🇪🇺

Rising institutionalisation + unequal access to support show urgent action is needed.

🔗Learn more here: enil.eu/independent-...

#IndependentLiving #DisabilityRights

Personal assistance in Central Europe. Thursday 27 November 2025, from 17:00 to 18:30 CET.

Join us on 27 November for the next PAW session:
“Personal Assistance in Central Europe: The Cases of Austria.”

🗓️TOMORROW, 27 November 17:00–18:30 CET, online
🔗Register here: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

Consultation on a Roadmap for Independent Living Services - ENIL How can we efficiently provide access to the services disabled people with support needs require to live independently? Do personal budgets hold the potential ...

🔍 How can personal budgets truly support Independent Living?

ENIL invites members to a consultation on the new Roadmap for Independent Living Services.

🗓 27 Nov, 14:00–16:00 CET, online

👉 Register here: enil.eu/event/consul...

#IndependentLiving #DisabilityRights

Policy talk "Your EU Disability Policy Update", on 25 November 2025, from 14:00 to 15:00 CET. AI, hate speech and housing.

Join our EU Policy Briefing on 25 November, 14:00–15:00 (Zoom)🇪🇺

Our experts will break down key topics:

🤖 EU AI Act
🚫 Hate crime & hate speech
🏘️ EU housing policy

👉 Sign up now: us02web.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

#IndependentLiving #DisabilityRights #ENIL #Inclusion

Today at an event of the Social Platform ENIL took the floor and demanded an MFF with a high spending on Independent Living Services.

Commitments to reduce poverty or homelessness will not work until the root cause of disability exclusion is addressed.