The European Parliament adopted by 613 votes to 7, with 11 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities.
The European Parliament’s position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amends the proposal as follows:
Subject matter and scope
The proposed Directive lays down:
- the rules governing the issuance of the European Disability Card to persons with disabilities as proof of a disability status or proof of entitlement to specific services based on a disability;
- the rules governing the issuance of the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities as proof of the right to parking conditions and facilities reserved for persons with disabilities, with the aim of promoting freedom of movement for persons with disabilities and facilitating short stays of persons with disabilities in a Member State other than that in which they are a resident, by granting them equal access to any parking conditions and facilities offered to or reserved for persons with disabilities in that Member State and, where applicable, persons accompanying or assisting them including their personal assistants;
- common templates for the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities.
Equal access for disabled people to special conditions or preferential treatment
Both cards should grant card holders, as well as those accompanying them and assistance animals, access to most of the same conditions as national card holders. The new rules should only apply for short stays, with an exception for disability card holders that move to another member state for a mobility programme, such as Erasmus+.
European disability card
Each Member State should introduce the physical version of the European disability card and the European parking card for persons with disabilities in accordance with the common standardised and accessible format set out in Annexes I and II. Member States may decide to complement the physical version of the card by a digital version. In Member States where the physical version of the card is complemented by a digital version, persons with disabilities may request the card in the physical version, and if they so wish, in both the physical and the digital versions. Member States should integrate into the physical version of the cards a QR code and other digital functionalities using electronic means to prevent and combat fraud.
The European disability card should be issued or renewed by the Member State of residence, directly or at the request of the disabled person or an authorised person, in accordance with national law. Disabled people should be informed of the possibility of applying for the European disability card, when it is not issued directly. The card should be issued or renewed free of charge to the beneficiary, within the same time limit as that applicable for the issue of disability certificates, disability cards or other official documents or for official procedures recognising the status of disabled person.
The European Parking Card for persons with disabilities should be issued or renewed within a reasonable period from the date of the application which should not exceed 90 days, unless required assessments are ongoing.
The issuance and renewal of the European Disability Card should be free of charge, while the reissuance of that card, in the event of loss or damage, may be subject to a fee. The issuance and renewal of the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities should be either free of charge or subject to a fee.
Where such a fee is charged, Member States should ensure that the fee does not exceed the administrative costs concerned or discourage persons with disabilities from requesting the reissuance of the European Disability Card.
The personal data contained in that digital version should be encrypted and technical precautions should be put in place to ensure that the storage medium is read only by authorised users.
The validity of the European Disability Card should be determined by the issuing Member State. Member States should ensure that the European Disability Card has the longest possible validity taking into account.
Surveillance and compliance
In the event that a Member State encounters serious or systematic cases of abuse on its territory of the European Disability Card or European Parking Card for persons with disabilities issued by another Member State, that Member State should inform thereof the issuing Member State. Member States should exchange information with regard to abuse of those cards.
Accessibility of information and awareness raising
Member States should :
- make the conditions, rules, practice and procedures for issuing, renewing and withdrawing a European Disability Card and a European Parking Card for persons with disabilities publicly available in accessible formats, including in digital and easy-to-read formats ;
- take appropriate measures to raise awareness among the public and inform persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, including in accessible ways, about the existence and conditions for obtaining, using or renewing the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities. The Commission should undertake a European awareness-raising campaign in cooperation with the Member States;
- take measures to raise awareness among public authorities and private operators about the existence and the use of the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities;
- designate one or more competent authorities or bodies responsible for the issuance, renewal and withdrawal of the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities;
- ensure the active consultation and involvement of representative organisations of persons with disabilities in the development, implementation and evaluation of the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card for persons with disabilities.