Budapest, 26th May 2025 – A new report launched today reveals how European Union funds are being used in ways that violate the fundamental rights of marginalised communities, including Roma people, persons with disabilities, and people with a migrant background. The report is based on six national reports in Bulgaria, Czechia, Greece, Poland, Hungary and Romania.
The report, prepared by Bridge EU, with the support of the Validity Foundation and the European Network on Independent Living, highlights serious shortcomings in the way EU funds are managed and monitored, support fundamental rights violations, despite existing legal safeguards.
You can find here a one-page summary of the main findings of the reports.
“It is deeply concerning that public investment is being used to support discriminatory policies. We urge the European Union to immediately halt funding for such projects and to ensure that the voices of those who are not heard are included in decision-making”
— Steven Allen, Executive Director, Validity Foundation
The research points to wide range of cases where EU funds have financed harmful practices, and around €1.1 billion is spent on these projects. The main findings include:
- Educational and housing segregation of Roma communities and children with disabilities and their families;
- Institutionalisation of people with disabilities, Roma children and family separation;
- Deprivation of liberty of people with a migrant background
The European Network on Independent Living calls on national and EU authorities to take immediate steps to ensure EU funds contribute to inclusion and equal rights instead of discriminative treatment.
The full report is available on the project website here and Validity’s website here, along with the national reports.
Notes to the editors
- The ‘EU Funds for Fundamental Rights’ (FURI) project is a transnational initiative funded by the EU’s Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) programme (grant agreement number 101143162 – FURI – CERV-2023-CHAR-LITI). It aims to ensure that EU funds are used in ways that respect and promote the rights enshrined in the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.
- The project is coordinated by the Greek Council for Refugees (GCR) and implemented in six EU countries, with the support of a thematic coordinator and international partners.
- National partners:
- Awen Amencain Czechia
- Greek Council of Refugeesin Greece
- Partners Hungary Foundation in Hungary
- Policy Center for Roma and Minoritiesin Romania
- Network of Independent Expertsin Bulgaria
- Instytut Niezaleznego Zycia in Poland
- International partners:
- Thematic coordination:
- A total of 63 projects amounting to approximately €1.1 billion funding were identified across the 6 countries. Special attention was paid to three groups disproportionately affected by rights violations: Roma communities, people with a migrant background, and persons with disabilities.
- National partners:
For press inquiries or to request an interview, please contact: Steven Allen, press@validity.local, +36 30 709 5110
DISCLAIMER: Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. Grant agreement number: 101143162