European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities

Key points

The EESC:

• recommends to extend the scope of the Cards and to allow it to be used to obtain access to benefits linked to public social policies and/or national social security systems on a temporary basis when a person with a disability has moved to a Member State to study or to work;
• asks that the law clearly states that the Disability Card should be free of charge and voluntary;
• believes that it should never be a requirement to show the Disability Card as proof of disability for services that are granted under other EU legislation, such as the right to assistance at airports under Regulation 1107/2006;
• recommends to accompany the European Parking Card by a database available in all EU languages to provide information about existing applicable parking rules, conditions and spaces as defined at local, regional, or national level;
• recommends that the European Parking Card must have the words “European Parking Card” displayed in braille using the Marburg code dimensions;
• suggests setting up an EU, fully accessible website, with an easy-to-read version, available in all EU languages including sign languages, providing practical information for every country;
• suggests that the EU should coordinate an EU-wide and national awareness-raising campaigns in all EU languages for the general public, potential card users and service providers;
• recommends that the Commission ensure that appropriate funding is made available to the Member States to cover all the costs related to the issue and distribution of the Cards;
• believes that the launch of the Cards should be complemented by measures to improve the general accessibility of built environments, transport, services and goods;
• stresses the importance of the EU institutions working closely with persons with disabilities, as well as with EU, national, regional and local organisations representing persons with disabilities (DPOs) when developing, executing and, later, assessing the European Disability Card.