Easy-to-read is information that is written in a simple way so that all people can understand it.
People in the European Union
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The European Disability Card
Persons with disabilities could use
the European Disability Card
when they travel to any country
of the European Union:
• 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.
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.
The new European Disability Card
will be used in all 27 countries
of the European Union.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
You will then be able
to use the European Parking Card
not only in your country,
but in all countries of the European Union.
What will happen next?
The European Commission
can only propose laws.
For the laws to happen,
2 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.
• 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.
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.
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.
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.
