Accessibility of Public and Private Services
The European Accessibility Act was adopted on 17 April 2019. It must be put into national law by Member States by 28 June 2022 and put into practice from 28 June 2025.
Have you ever wondered what your rights are in the European Union as a person with disabilities?
Here you will find information on your rights as an European Union (EU) citizen or resident in the EU.
The European Accessibility Act was adopted on 17 April 2019. It must be put into national law by Member States by 28 June 2022 and put into practice from 28 June 2025.
Do you know your electoral rights as a EU citizen? Are there any conditions to vote? Know your EU electoral rights!
Are you entitled to job accommodation? Can I work in other EU countries? Check out all the employment information
The European Commission has promised that there will be a common European Disability Card by 2023. For now, the Card is available in in eight EU countries.
As a patient in the EU, you can seek medical treatment in another EU country and may be entitled to have the costs of your treatment reimbursed by your home country.
Erasmus +, European Solidarity Corps the Youth Guarantee and the Your Card.
If you travel by air, train, boat or coach (long distance bus), you have the following rights.
Victims of crime and other offences in the EU can receive protection, support, and access to justice under EU law.
You are protected under EU law when shopping in another EU country. This includes protection on the several stages of the purchase.
When moving within the EU, you only pay social security contributions in one country at a time. Generally, you will also receive social security benefits exclusively from this country.
The Digital COVID-19 Certificate entered into force on 1 July 2021. Know your rights here.
Our booklet ‘Your Rights in the European Union’ presents your rights as a person with disabilities in the European Union (EU).
It will help you understand:
Organisations and institutions who can help in cases of discrimination and/or human rights violations
National Enforcement Bodies (NEBS) for Passengers’ Rights
EU rules oblige the Member States to create “national enforcement bodies,” whose role is to verify that transport operators are treating all passengers in accordance with their rights. Passengers who believe their rights under the regulation have not been respected should contact the body in the country where the incident took place. There is a specific NEB for each of the Regulations on passengers’ rights.
Equinet – European Network of Equality Bodies
46 ‘equality bodies’ (national institutions from 34 European countries) that raise awareness, promote equality, and often handle complaints of discrimination across a range of grounds including age, disability, gender, race or ethnic origin, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.
Contact details of the equality body in your country: European Directory of Equality Bodies
Tel: +32 2 212 3182 | info@equineteurope.org
Your Europe Advice (YEA) by the European Citizens Action Service (ECAS)
EU advice service provided by legal experts from the European Citizen Action Service. Team of about 60 lawyers who cover all 24 official EU languages and are familiar both with EU law and national laws in all EU countries. Your Europe Advice replies to questions from citizens or businesses on their personal EU rights. The experts respond to the questions within one week, free of charge and in the language chosen by the user.
Enquiries can be submitted either via an online form or by phone (00 800 6 7 8 9 10 11).
Tel: +32 (0) 2 548 04 90 | info@ecas.org
European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA)
The EU’s centre of fundamental rights expertise. The Agency helps to ensure that the fundamental rights of people living in the EU are protected. The Agency has done research and data collection on the rights of persons with disabilities on a range of issues.
Tel: +43 1 580 30 – 0 | information@fra.europa.eu
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 20 00
European Commission – Your Europe
Advice for EU nationals and their families on travel, work and retirement, vehicles, residence formalities, education and youth, health, family, and consumers.
European Commission – Problems and Complaints
If you think your national government breached EU law, you can complain to the Commission.
European Parliament – Committee of Petitions
You can submit your own petition electronically or on paper, and provide information on petitions already received by the Committee. Your petition and information allow the Parliament to conduct a “reality check” on the way in which EU laws are implemented.
See also: Disability Intergroup of the European Parliament
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 17 23 13 | Fax. +33 (0)3 88 17 90 62
European Court of Justice
The European Court of Justice interprets EU law to make sure it is applied the same way in all countries. The European Court of Justice also settles legal disputes between EU governments and EU institutions. Individuals, companies, and organisations can also bring cases before the Court of Justice if they felt their rights had been infringed by an EU institution.
European Court of Justice contact form
Tel + 352 4303 | Fax:+352 4303 2600
The United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
The Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is an additional legal instrument to enforce the CRPD. The Protocol allows individuals and groups of individuals to complain to the CRPD Committee about situations in which their rights under the CRPD are not respected. 22 out of the 28 EU member states have ratified the Optional Protocol. The European Union has not ratified it yet.
Tel: +41 22 917 9220 | InfoDesk@ohchr.org or civilsociety@ohchr.org