Are you interested in the rights of persons with disabilities? The European Commission is working on a proposal for a European Disability Card. And we want to hear your views so that we can take them into account in the design of the initiative: answer the public consultation by Friday 5 May.

To help us design the European Disability Card initiative, please answer the public consultation by Friday 5 May to weigh in on the decisions.

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

The survey is anonymous, available in 24 languages and in easy-to-read English. It only takes a few minutes to complete.  

To select another language, please use the language selector in the top right corner of the survey. Or take the easy-to-read version of the survey.

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

European Disability Card

The European Disability Card aims to ensure that persons with disabilities can smoothly travel across the European Union. 

Currently, some persons with disabilities face difficulties when they are in another country in the European Union because:

• They have the national disability card or certificate that is not accepted in the country they travel to,
• They cannot benefit from preferential conditions provided by some services to persons with disabilities (for example, priority access to venues, personal assistance in venues and shops);
• They do not receive benefits (for example, discounted prices when they buy a movie ticket, tickets to cultural events and exhibitions, transport tickets).

Background

The new European Disability Card builds on a successful pilot project (EU Disability Card) in eight countries.

In these countries, the card ensures equal access to certain voluntary benefits and services across borders for persons with disabilities, mainly in culture, leisure, sport, and transport.

In the fourth quarter of 2023, the European Commission will propose a European Disability Card that would apply to all EU countries.

The initiative will also build on the EU parking card for people with disabilities.

This ambition was set out in the EU’s strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities, of which the European Disability Card is a flagship initiative.

Have a look at this video, where the European Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli, talks about the strategy and the benefits of the Card with Sarah Talbi, a painter, artist and content creator based in Belgium.