In a written answer to MEP Giuseppe Antoci (The Left), Commissioner for Equality Helena Lahbib acknowledged systemic shortcomings in access to social, health and educational services for persons with disabilities and autism spectrum disorder in Sicily, but stressed that the organisation of such services remains a national competence. The Commission committed to reinforcing the EU Strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030 through an upcoming Communication, while pointing to existing EU funding and guidance as tools to support Member States.
The answer, published on 23 April 2026, responds to Antoci's question of 27 February 2026, which detailed fragmented competences, diagnostic delays, staff shortages, therapy discontinuity, and insufficient support assistants in Sicily. The MEP argued that these shortcomings violate Article 26 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Upcoming strategy reinforcement
The Commission announced that the upcoming Communication on enhancing the disability strategy up to 2030, included in the 2026 Commission Work Programme, will aim to reinforce joint EU and Member State action to promote disability rights and support CRPD implementation. The answer also referenced the Commission Guidance on independent living in the context of EU funding, published on 20 November 2024, which serves as a benchmark for deinstitutionalisation and community-based inclusion.
Limited concrete commitments
Beyond the planned Communication, the answer contained no new numerical targets, deadlines, or structural proposals. It reiterated existing tools: EU funding under shared management programmes, mutual learning, and technical assistance to managing authorities. The Commission did not commit to requesting specific information from Sicilian authorities or to activating targeted checks, as suggested by Antoci.
Policy orientation and institutional follow-up
The answer signals a continued EU-level focus on guidance and funding conditionality rather than direct intervention in national service organisation. The upcoming Communication, expected later in 2026, will be the key vehicle for any new commitments. The Commission's emphasis on national competence suggests that pressure for systemic change in Sicily will rely on EU funding leverage and voluntary cooperation rather than enforcement.
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