100 Million Europeans Will Benefit From Disability Card Directive, David Casa Announces
100 million Europeans are set to benefit from the EU’s Disability Card Directive, Nationalist MEP David Casa said.
“Equality is a core value upon which the European Union is based. However, people with disabilities still face unequal access to certain services and preferential treatments when travelling abroad,” Casa said.
Casa led negotiations on behalf of the European People’s Party Group and he will now form part of the Parliament’s negotiating team with the Council.
“It is time to create a Europe where 100 million disabled people will stand on an equal footing with the rest of us and enjoy their life to the fullest.”
“Bolstering the disability and parking cards will enable people with disabilities to access special conditions provided by both public and private services in other EU member states on equal footing with the residents of those countries, as well as improve their parking rights across the Union,” Casa explained.
The card is expected to have a largely positive impact on the participation of people with disabilities in European society and economy.
“Not only do we want it to be easier for them to travel around Europe, but we also want them to be able to enjoy the same benefits they enjoy at home while they take part in EU mobility programmes like Erasmus+ or move to another member state.”
“It is crucial to raise awareness about this card both among people and service providers, public, and private alike. Additionally, the card should be accessible to all who qualify, we are working hard to ensure that the card is free of charge, issued rapidly, and contains safeguards for misuse or fraud,” Casa concluded.
After today’s vote in the Parliament’s Committee on Social Affairs, negotiations with the member states can start once the mandate has been announced in the January plenary session. Once this happens, negotiations with the Council on the final form of the law can begin. Member states have already agreed on their position.
The card is committed to facilitating free movement for persons with disabilities across member states while also revamping the European Parking Card to ensure that when traveling for a short period, persons with disability will have access to the same special conditions as those residing in that member state.
MEPs propose that the disability card should be issued or renewed within 60 days of someone applying for it and the parking card within 30 days. They also introduce the option of requesting a digital version of the parking card, to be ready in 15 days.
This action was co-financed by the European Union in the frame of the European Parliament’s grant programme in the field of communication. The European Parliament was not involved in its preparation and is, in no case, responsible for or bound by the information or opinions expressed in the context of this action. In accordance with applicable law, the authors, interviewed people, publishers or programme broadcasters are solely responsible. The European Parliament can also not be held liable for direct or indirect damage that may result from the implementation of the action.
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