In this interview, we speak with Alícia HOMS, Member of the European Parliament (MEP). She has been part of the Disability Intergroup since joining the Parliament in 2019. Through her work in the Committees on Employment and Social Affairs, Transport and Tourism, and on the Housing Crisis, MEP Homs regularly raises the concerns of persons with disabilities.
We discussed:
- The EU housing crisis, and how EU policies and the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF – the EU’s long-term budget) can help protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
- Freedom of movement and the barriers that prevent independent living.
- The trilogues for the Traineeships Directive, a key initiative for young persons with disabilities.
Recognising housing as a fundamental right
Question: The housing crisis in the EU disproportionately affects persons with disabilities due to a lack of accessible and affordable housing. What specific measures could the EU’s housing policies include to remove these barriers and protect the rights of persons with disabilities?
Answer: Like with every crisis, the impact of the housing crisis on vulnerable groups is disproportionately severe, deepening existing inequalities and forcing those already at risk into inadequate or inaccessible living conditions.
This is why, housing policies need to address inequality, to ensure access to decent and affordable housing for all. To achieve this, I believe it is essential to first recognise housing as a fundamental right, integral to individual and community wellbeing, not a privilege determined by the market. EU housing policies should make equality and accessibility mandatory conditions for all publicly funded projects, while also expanding financial support for adaptation measures in existing dwellings. By prioritising accessible, affordable, and inclusive housing, the EU can empower persons with disabilities to live independently and with dignity, transforming housing from a source of exclusion into a foundation for social justice and equality across Europe.
Linking EU budget priorities to accessibility
Question: As a member of the European Parliament’s Special Committee on the Housing Crisis, how do you think the next EU budget can help address the housing crisis? What funding priorities could support independent living for persons with disabilities?
Answer: The next EU budget will play a decisive role in addressing the housing crisis and supporting independent living for persons with disabilities. Funding needs to prioritise the expansion of publicly owned and social housing that meets accessibility standards, as well as adaptation measures for existing dwellings.
This is why the Group of the Socialists and Democrats demand a dedicated line of funding in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for decent and affordable housing, that enables the targeting of these specific needs and ensures that resources reach those most at risk of exclusion. Additionally, we call for the revision of State Aid rules for Services of General Economic Interest (SGEIs) to broaden the definition of housing to allow public support to benefit vulnerable groups and tackle accessibility.
By linking EU budget priorities to accessibility, inclusion, and inequality, the Union can make concrete progress towards housing that empowers all citizens, leaving no one behind.
Moving from good intentions to real action
Question: From your perspective as a member and substitute in the Committees for Employment and Social Affairs, and Transport and Tourism, what other priorities do you think the EU should focus on to better support persons with disabilities?
Answer: The EU still has a lot to do to make sure persons with disabilities enjoy the same rights everywhere in Europe. We need to close the remaining gaps to guarantee real freedom of movement by making disability assessments faster and mutually recognised across Member States. Accessible transport is also essential. Without it, inclusion is impossible.
We have to look at this from an intersectional perspective. The experience of a person with disabilities is not the same for everyone; it changes with gender, age or sexual orientation. Women with disabilities face more poverty, violence and discrimination. We must make sure their fundamental rights are protected.
At the same time, we should move from good intentions to real action: that means enforceable employment quotas and reserved contracts in both public and private sectors, so people can live independently and with dignity.
Finally, we are about to start the trilogues on the Traineeships Directive, for which I am the Rapporteur. This is a key file for young people: we want to ensure that employers provide paid, quality traineeships for persons with disabilities on equal terms with everyone else, and that no one loses their disability allowance for taking part in a traineeship.