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Our proposal for a European Disability Card and a European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities (Easy to read version)

Easy-to-read version

Easy-to-read is information that is written in a simple way so that all people can understand it. You can find more information at: www.inclusion-europe.eu/easy-to-read.

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People in the European Union have the right to move and live freely
in any country of the European Union. For example, a person from Belgium could move and live freely in Italy.
Blind traveler

We call this right 'freedom of movement'.

Persons with disabilities have the right to freedom of movement too.

However, in practice, it may be hard for persons with disabilities to enjoy this right like other people.

Diversity inclusion group of people
Often, their disability is not recognised in other countries. This way they cannot get discounts or other advantages for people with disabilities when they travel or move to another country
Frustrated woman
At the European Commission, we propose laws that could make Europe better Amongst others, we work to make sure that persons with disabilities can enjoy the right to freedom of movement.
We have now prepared a proposal for a new law to make it easier for people with disabilities to move freely in the European Union.
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This law will help people with disabilities to show they have a disability and get discounts and other advantages when they move to any country of the European Union.
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With this law, we suggest making 2 cards:

  • The European Disability Card,
    and
  • The European Parking Card
    for Persons with Disabilities.

Persons with disabilities will be able to use these 2 cards in all the countries of the European Union.

Hand holding an EU disability parking card

The European Disability Card

Persons with disabilities could use the European Disability Card when they travel to any country of the European Union:
European disability card
  • To show they have a disability, and
  • To get the same advantages in culture, sports, and other activities
    as the persons with disabilities of that country.
Hand holding European disability card

For example, thanks to the European Disability Card, persons with disabilities could:

  • Pay less when they buy tickets for trains, metros, museums,
    or football matches.
  • Get information in accessible ways so that they can read and understand it.
Museum access
The new European Disability Card will be used in all 27 countries of the European Union.
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The European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities

Sometimes using a car is the only option for persons with disabilities to go where they want.

It is very important for them to be able to park their car as close as possible to the place they want to go.

Disabled Parking
That is why there are specific parking spaces where only persons with disabilities have the right to park their car. These spaces are normally marked with an image of a wheelchair.
Handicap logo
The European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities will help persons with disabilities who travel or move
to any country of the European Union to use parking spaces for persons with disabilities in that country.
European Parking Card
Right now, every country of the European Union has its own parking card for persons with disabilities. The European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities will replace all other parking cards.
Disabled Parking

This way all countries of the European Union will use one same type of card The European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities.

So if you now use a parking card in your country, this card will be replaced by the European Parking Card.

Hand holding Parking Card
You will then be able to use the European Parking Card not only in your country, but in all countries of the European Union.
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What will happen next?

The European Commission can only propose laws. For the laws to happen, other bodies of the European Union must agree:
  • The European Parliament The people of the European Parliament are elected by all people in Europe to stand for their rights.
European parliament logo
  • The Council of the European Union People who make decisions in every country of the European Union come together and make the Council of the European Union.
EU Council logo
In the next period, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union will discuss the proposal of the European Commission to make a European Disability Card and a European Parking Card for Persons with Disabilities.
EU Parliament meeting

They will decide if they want this law to happen in Europe and how the final text of the law will be.

Then all countries of the European Union must work to make this law happen in the next 2,5 years.

Check list board with pen

For example, all countries in the European Union should:

  • Make sure their laws are in line with this new European law.
  • Spread the word about the 2 new cards and the rights persons with disabilities have when using these cards.
  • Inform persons with disabilities about how they can get the cards.
  • Make the information about the cards accessible so that persons with disabilities can easily use them.
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Hand holding European disability card

More information

If you have questions, you can send us a message
by clicking here.
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