This article was updated to include the new deadline.
The Commission launched a call for evidence on the EU Disability Card with a deadline of 9 January 2023.
This Commission’s initiative aims to gather the view of organisations and citizens to define the proposal on the EU Disability Card.
We encourage everyone to participate. It’s important to share your views and to add our official demands, as the number of people that echo our demands will ensure they are taken into consideration.
The European Disability Forum outlined our demands in its position paper from 2022:
- Based on binding legislation, specifically a Regulation.
- Mandatory inclusion of transport services and support (free or reduced fare, possibility to request assistance, free or reduced fare for support persons).
- EU-level website, available in all EU languages that reunites all practical details for every country (where to get the Card, format, database of benefits and places that accept it).
- Fully accessible Card with a “Credit Card” format.
- Separate from the EU Parking Card.
- Include all areas of services and support already provided for national citizens beyond culture, leisure and sport – such as commercial benefits, education, or employment:
- Commercial benefits: non-nationals should have the same access as nationals to discounts on assistive devices or affordable communications plans, for example.
- Education: Equal recognition of benefits for persons using EU Mobility programmes (such as ERASMUS+). This means universities should provide the same level of support to exchange students with disabilities, for example.
- Employment: facilitate the transition when moving to another EU Member State for work. This means that persons with disabilities should have temporary assess to disability benefits in the Member State while undergoing a “re-assessment” process.
Practical considerations
The same paper outlines 4 essential considerations to make the Card a success:
- Funding: The EU should set up dedicated funding to set up the Card, the website and to guarantee continuing operational needs (printing, staff, administration)
- A wide, accessible awareness-raising campaign in all EU countries to inform about the Card. The campaign must reach users (so they can get the Card), service providers (so they can know about it and accept it), and the general public.
- Close collaboration with persons with disabilities, and especially their representative organisations – at all levels. in all their diversity.
Photo Credit: European Commission