PRESS RELEASE - 1,1 billion EUR, 63 projects, six countries, one pattern: how EU funds violate fundamental rights

Brussels, 26 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  from 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. 

For the first time, this research exposes widespread and common areas of rights violations funded by the EU - affecting Roma communities, persons with disabilities and with a migrant background,”  

highlights Lefteris Papagiannakis, Director, Greek Council for Refugees and FURI project coordinator.  

“From segregated education to institutionalisation, the findings reveal systemic discrimination.  EU and national authorities must act urgently to prevent further rights violations and ensure that EU money supports equality and inclusion.” 

The research identified 63 project examples, and 1.1 billion euros spent on these projects.  Several hundreds of thousands of people are affected.  

Click here to access the reports

Click here for the project website

For further inquires, please contact: Andor Urmos, andor.urmos@bridge-eu.org

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 (Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Romania), with the support of a thematic coordinator and international partners. 

  • National partners:  

    • Awen Amenca in Czechia 

    • Greek Council for Refugees in Greece 

    • Partners Hungary Foundation in Hungary 

    • Policy Center for Roma and Minorities in Romania 

    • Network of Independent Experts in Bulgaria 

    • Instytut Niezaleznego Zycia in Poland 

  • International partners:  

    • Validity Foundation 

    • European Network on Independent Living 

  • Thematic coordination:  

    • Bridge EU 

• A total of 63 projects amounting to approximately 1.1 billion euros 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. 

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 European Education and Culture Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.