On 23 April, the European Parliament debated the European Disability Card and European Parking Card. The debate will be followed by a vote on 24 April that will seal the political content of the Card.

The debate started with statements by negotiators and the European Commissioner for Equality, followed by interventions by MEPs.

European Commissioner Helena Dalli started by welcoming the ambitious provisional agreement, especially its extension to EU Mobility Programmes and the commitment to assess remaining gaps.

Negotiators

The debate started with interventions by MEPs who worked on the two directives in question: the establishment of a European Disability Card and European Parking Card and the extension of the Cards to third-country nationals.

Lead negotiator MEP Lucia Ďuriš Nicholsonová said: “People with disabilities have been fighting for this agreement for 15 years” and “they were at the centre of our concerns.” She outlined advances to the Directive achieved by the European Parliament negotiators, including the extension to people undertaking EU Mobility Programmes, the Cards being issued free of charge and the commitment to a further analysis of issues of freedom of movement in 5 years.

MEP Antonius Manders, who co-led negotiations on extending the Cards to third-country nationals, stated that the Card is a good example of how initiatives can have a practical impact on people’s lives and how achievements need to be built upon.

MEP Alice Bah Kunke, the co-leader on negotiations on extending the Cards, stated that the European Disability Card is a good start — but only the beginning. She added that there is much that needs to be done to ensure freedom of movement.

MEP Linus Glanzelius spoke in memory of negotiator MEP Erik Bergkvist, who sadly passed away before the debate. He stated that MEP Bergvist would be very proud of the ambitious compromise on the European Disability Card.

MEP David Casa stated that the European Disability Card will be an advancement for a more equal society, but “we need to continue working” towards it.

MEP João Albuquerque echoed the call for the next mandate to continue working on freedom of movement for persons with disabilities and build on the achievements of the Card to ensure an equal “playing field” for all.

MEP Cyrus Engerer focused on how the legislation includes now an intersectional perspective and how all persons with disabilities need to have their rights guaranteed.

Disability Intergroup members

Several members of the European Parliament’s Disability Intergroup also expressed their opinion on the Cards.

MEP Estaràs Ferragut reasserted that the Cards are a promising beginning, but that next mandate should focus on expanding freedom of movement.

MEP Katrin  Langensiepen focused on how the Cards need to work as an awareness-raising mechanism and change peoples’ perception towards persons with disabilities.

MEP José Gusmão congratulated the European Parliament for being the driving force in an ambitious European Disability Card and Parking Card. He stated that these Cards will benefit more the “more independent” persons with disabilities and called for more funding and work on Independent Living – to ensure all can benefit.

MEP Radka Máxova highlighted this was one of the promises she mad to her Czech constituents when elected – that the Cards will be agreed. She reminds that they still need to become a rezality abd called for a rapid implementation of the Cards.

MEP Ádám Kósa mentioned that being a Deaf MEP for the last 15 years, he closely followed the entire process of the Card – and congratulated that an agreement was reached.

MEP Abir Al-Sahlani stated that we need these European Disability Card and Parking Cards, but “it’s not enough”. She warned against far-right and populist parties that disagree that all persons with disabilities have a right to the Card.

MEP Francesca Peppuci stated that “disabilities don’t stop at borders” and echoed the call that the Cards are only the beginning of the work towards full freedom of movement.

Conclusion

MEP Ďuriš Nicholsonová and Commissioner Dalli both considered the agreement on the European Disability Card and Parking Card a cornerstone of the mandate. They underlined the good cooperation between EU Institutions (European Commission, European Parliament and Council of the EU) in ensuring a speedy agreement.

They agreed that it was a first step towards freedom of movement but that the next mandate must do more.

Next steps

The political content of the Directives was approved on 24 April, but, as you can read in more detail, delays with language translations mean that a final procedural vote will take place after the European elections.

Featured photo: EU Commissioner for Equality Helena Dalli. Copyright: European Union 2024 – Source : EP