Answer given by Ms Thyssen on behalf of the European Commission
15.3.2019
The Commission was not aware of this issue and does not have the competence to intervene in this case. The design of the social protection systems, which includes disability assessment procedures, falls exclusively under the competence of Member States. The Honourable Member is advised to bring this case to the attention of the Greek Ombudsman[1] who is competent when it comes to unjust access to and supply of goods and services in the public sector.
Moreover, Greece has ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of the United Nations (UN CRPD)[2] and has therefore committed to implement Article 19 on the right to independent living and being included in the community, Article 28 on the adequate standard of living and social protection and Article 25 on health. Greece has also promised to align its disability assessment procedures with the human rights based approach enshrined in the UN CRPD. It also has a duty to put in place independent national monitoring mechanisms to safeguard the proper implementation of the UN CRPD.
The European Structural and Investment Funds can be used to finance national investment in the prevention of institutionalisation and in the transition from existing institutional care to alternative community-based care services that allow for independent living.