Proud, Strong and Visible
European Network on Independent Living
ENIL is a user-led network of disabled people, with members throughout Europe. Our mission is to advocate for Independent Living values, principles and practices: provision of personal assistance and other community supports and services, a barrier-free environment and adequate technical aids, together making full citizenship of disabled people possible.
About our organisation
ENIL is a network based on solidarity and peer support
ENIL is a forum for all disabled people, Independent Living organisations and their non-disabled allies on the issues of Independent Living. ENIL represents the disability movement for human rights and social inclusion, based on solidarity, peer support, deinstitutionalisation, democracy, self-representation, cross-disability and self-determination. Our vision is of Europe where all disabled people are able to exercise choice and control over their lives, on an equal level with others; where they are valued members of the community and can enjoy all of their human rights, as set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
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ENIL works to strengthen the empowerment of disabled people, through providing resources for peer support and peer-to-peer training. ENIL enhances the European disability sector by providing an arena for the sharing of disabled people’s experience of services and by providing expertise on independent living. Our Youth Network brings together young people, making their voice heard in the independent living movement.
Recent News
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When We Don’t Speak the Same Language
Last week, I attended two conferences in two different European capitals, Brussels and Dublin. Both were about technology and its potential to improve people’s …
ENIL advocacy success: New options for the portability of supported decision-making and personal assistance in cross-border situations
Following extensive advocacy efforts by ENIL and allies, a new EU regulation will create a legal entitlement for the recognition of supported decision-making when …
Freedom Drivers take their demands to the EU Parliament
After marching through Brussels, Freedom Drive participants brought their demands into the European Parliament: EU money must support disabled people’s choice, control and participation …
Find out about Independent Living in your country
The Independent Living survey was launched in 2020, to find about the state of independent living around Europe. Its results are updated regularly and shared with policy and decision makers at the European level.
Access IL MapUpcoming Events
View all events![[Online Event] Reforming international legal capacity norms](https://enil.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/Webinar-9.png)
30/11/2026 – 30/11/2026
[Online Event] Reforming international legal capacity normsWith the proposal for a regulation on the protection of vulnerable adults, the European Union tried to ratify the 2000 HCCH Convention. The 2000 …
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27/10/2026 – 27/10/2026
WEBINAR – A GUIDE TO ESC VOLUNTEERING: six months volunteering in BrusselsAre you a young disabled person? Are you passionate about advocating for the right to Independent Living at the European level? Would you be …
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17/11/2026 – 17/11/2026
EU Policy Briefing III: Inside the State of the Union speech by the European Commission PresidentDate: 17 November 2026 Time: 15:00–16:00 CEST Location: Online Register here Weak economic growth, accelerating climate change or the war against Palestine. Europe is …
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