Over the next ten years, the European Commission will strive to improve accessibility to goods and services for people with disabilities. This is the only one of the eight main actions identified in its new disability strategy for 2010-2020 – ‘A renewed commitment to a barrier-free Europe’ – presented on 15 November, on which it plans to present a legislative proposal.

The EU executive announced that it wishes to study the possibility of proposing a legislative act that will serve as a framework for accessibility to goods, services and public infrastructures. “A very effective option for achieving this is to develop standards for accessible goods and services at European level and to use public procurement to promote accessible public buildings. Similar measures have been both a societal and an economic success in the United States,” said Viviane Reding, the commissioner with responsibility for justice, fundamental rights and citizenship. She acknowledged nonetheless that management of disabilities is a national responsibility.

With only 5% of public sector websites fully meeting accessibility standards, the Commission will also present proposals in 2011 to make sure that these and other sites offering basic services to the public are fully accessible by 2015 to persons with disabilities. The executive will also publish a report on implementation of the regulation on the rights of persons with reduced mobility travelling by air.

The other seven areas of action identified in the strategy as priorities are: participation; equality; employment; education and training; social protection; health; and external action. The Commission will monitor implementation and the impact of Directive 2000/78/EC (creating a framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation) to improve employment among persons with disabilities and plans to intensify data collection. It will also work to promote mutual recognition of disability cards and the rights they confer and to facilitate the use of sign language and Braille when citizens exercise electoral rights. “A person with a recognised disability who decides to move to another country should be able to enjoy the same benefits as in his home country, such as a free or reduced-cost public transport. My goal is a truly barrier-free Europe for persons with disabilities by 2020,” announced Reding. She promises to ensure that people with disabilities have a place in the flagship initiatives of ‘Europe 2020’, the Union’s new ten-year strategy.

Disabilities ranging from mild to severe concern one in six people in the Union, around 80 million people. Many are elderly and the numbers are not expected to improve as the EU population ages.

TOO FEW SPECIFIC TARGETS

In an on-the-spot reaction, the European Disability Forum (EDF) gave a mixed review. Its members welcome the announcement of a legislative initiative on accessibility and recognition of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities, but regret the absence of other concrete objectives. “We regret that the new strategy does not contain concrete targets with figures and key dates,” observed EDF President Yannis Vardakastanis. “This was the problem of the disability action plan for 2000-2010, the previous strategy. It was very ambitious but in the end the results were mediocre.” The forum also regrets that its idea of establishing coordination mechanisms between the different EU institutions was not included.

Reding acknowledged that management of disabilities is a national responsibility