The European Commission has launched a 12-weeks public consultation to gather views on a European Disability Card. The questionnaire is available in all EU languages and in easy-to-read English.

The public consultation will contribute to the European Disability Card initiative to be adopted by the Commission in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Background

There are about ninety million persons with disabilities living in the European Union. They still face obstacles that may prevent or discourage them from moving freely or accessing preferential conditions provided by certain services, especially because there is no mutual recognition of disability status among Member States.

To overcome these problems, the European Commission is considering an initiative facilitating the mutual recognition of disability status across Member States: the creation of a European Disability Card.

The objective is to facilitate mobility and free movement and equal enjoyment of rights for persons with disabilities in the EU including when accessing certain services. European Disability Card holders would benefit from the same preferential conditions for access to relevant services in all Member States, irrespective of where their disability status was granted.

The proposal for the European Disability Card is a flagship action of the EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030. The Call for evidence took place from 23 November 2022 to 9 January 2023.

The initiative will build on the experience of the European Disability Card pilot project and upon the EU parking card for persons with disabilities.

Who can participate?

We welcome all replies from individuals, organisations, public authorities, businesses, academics and other stakeholders.

You do not require any previous knowledge of European disability policies or the EU Disability Card to participate in this consultation.

How to participate?

The standard questionnaire is available here in all EU languages

However, if you cannot respond to the online questionnaire, because it is not accessible for you: just download the accessible version below and send it to us via email.

Note that a short easy-to-read version of the questionnaire is also currently online: it is accessible to everyone, including persons with intellectual disabilities.

The consultation will end on 5 May 2023.