After many years of campaigning by EDF and its members, the European Disability Card is one step closer to becoming a reality when the European Commission publishes their proposal for a law expanding the Card in September.
As announced in the Disability Rights Strategy 2021-2030, the EU Disability Card will be one of the “Flagship Initiatives”, and was one of the key initiatives for 2023 announced by the President of the Commission during the State of the European Union address.
The history of the EU Disability Card
The proposal for a EU Disability Card dates back from 2010, when the Disability Movement began campaigning for it. Initially, it was referred to as the “European Mobility Card” to emphasise the aspect of freedom of movement within the EU. However, later on, the European Commission decided to rename it as the “Disability Card.”
From 2016 to 2018, the EU conducted a pilot project across eight Member States (Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Italy, Malta, Romania, Slovenia). This initiative funded the Card’s launch and the establishment of national databases, where service providers could offer benefits to Card holders. The project operated on the principle of mutual recognition, allowing participating Member States to acknowledge the EU Disability Card from other countries, even if it followed national regulations. The project’s evaluation deemed it a successful endeavour and recommended further continuation.
The results of the pilot project
The pilot project served as a good starting point, but it is rather limited in its scope and approach. Currently, the EU Disability Card primarily offers benefits in the realms of culture, leisure, sport, and tourism. These advantages may include reduced entry fees for local museums, swimming pools, or cinemas, as well as shorter waiting times at amusement parks, complimentary access for personal assistants at music festivals, and more. However, awareness levels among potential EU Disability Card holders and staff responsible for validating the cards remain relatively low.
The ideal Disability Card
EDF recommends that the European Disability Card should:
- Be based on binding EU legislation, i.e. a Regulation or a Directive
- Allow for mutual recognition of one’s disability status
- Cover a maximum of different areas beyond culture, leisure, and sport. It should by default also cover national, regional, and local public transport, education in the framework of EU Mobility Programmes, facilitate employment in the transition phase to access the national disability benefit system when moving abroad, as well as commercial benefits.
- Be accompanied by an EU-level website and online database available in all EU languages.
- Be accompanied by an EU funding instrument that ensures continuity and a lasting legacy beyond the initial launch.
- be accompanied with a communication and awareness-raising campaign to ensure the biggest possible impact.
- Not be combined physically with the European Parking Card.
Throughout the entire process from the policy and legislative procedure to the implementation and communication of the Card, persons with disabilities and their representative organisations have to be closely involved.
How does this relate to Passengers’ Rights?
The European Disability Card will be very useful for persons with disabilities when travelling abroad and when using transport.
While it is important to remember that it is not an obligation to show proof of disability to receive assistance at airports, train stations, bus stations, or port terminals, the EU Disability Card could be particularly beneficial for individuals with invisible disabilities, as it can help them avoid discussions or debates regarding their right to assistance.
It will also make it easier to obtain discounts for tickets for example, when taking the train. The Card’s easy recognition by staff can help break down language barriers, ensuring a smoother and more efficient assistance process.
It will also help grant access to preferential seating arrangements (e.g. in some Member States, persons with disabilities are allowed to travel in 1st class in trains) and other disability-related advantages when using transport.
While the Card will not solve all our problems, such as issues with infrastructure or vehicle accessibility, or eliminate the problem of being denied boarding on a plane due to a disability, it represents an important first step towards increasing disability awareness across the EU.
More information
EDF campaign on the EU Disability Card
Contact
Marie Denninghaus – EDF Senior Policy Coordinator
marie.denninghaus@edf-feph.org