European Disability Card to be piloted in 17 EU Member States
Thu, 02/07/2015
The free movement of persons is one of the basic rights guaranteed by the European Union to all its citizens. Still, people with disabilities are often prevented from traveling freely by the lack of recognition of their disability status, and by their inability to access services they would normally be entitled to in their home countries.
Fortunately, as a result of discussions with the disability movement, the European Commission is taking steps to remedy this situation by introducing a European Disability Card as a means to mutually recognise the rights and benefits of people with disabilities in the European Union Member States. The announcement was made by Marianne Thyssen, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility, at a European Parliament event on 30 June. “Mutual recognition of a person's identity and status is an essential element of this right to free movement,” Thyssen said. “This counts in particular for people with disabilities,” she added.
The European Commission has pledged to allocate €1.5 million to support the 17 Member States that will pilot this initiative by early 2016. The European Disability Card will allow Europeans with disabilities access to the same benefits in the areas of culture, leisure, transport and sport at home and abroad.
incluD-ed welcomes the European Commission’s initiative to introduce the European Disability Card. As stated in its latest position paper "Views of the European Network on Inclusive Education & Disability, incluD-ed, on EDF’s proposal of a European Mobility Card" incluD-ed believes that a EU Mobility Card will help to realise EU2020 goals.
incluDed also urges the Member States that have not joined the initiative yet to commit to supporting the freedom of movement of their citizens with disabilities, and recognise the European Disability Card as a tool for equal treatment.
While the European Union has removed the physical barriers to free movement, its next challenge is breaking down the administrative ones as well. We are happy to see they are taking steps to make this happen.
