Social Agenda Issue 54

OTHER VOICES The European Accessibility Act - A step forward but still a long way to go Marie Denninghaus: Further legislation and other non-legislative initiatives can build upon the European Accessibility Act. © André Félix/European Disability Forum The Accessibility Act had a lot of potential to make products and services accessible for all people in Europe, including 80 million persons with disabilities and 150 million older people. Unfortunately, this potential has not been fully used and the compromise text following the negotiations between Commission, Council, and the European Parliament now focuses mainly on digital products and services. The European Disability Forum (EDF) has been closely following the development of this legislative proposal; as a matter of fact, the adoption of a strong Accessibility Act has been one of the main objectives of its “Freedom of Movement” campaign. EDF wanted the Act to be a horizontal piece of legislation that would improve accessibility of products and services that persons with disabilities use in their everyday lives: household appliances, healthcare services, transport services, television, etc. We were also hoping that it would harmonize the accessibility requirements throughout EU legislation in general. This was partly achieved. There is a better understanding of accessibility requirements and some products and services will become more accessible. EDF is therefore happy that the Directive will finally be adopted after several years of negotiations and that at least in some areas it will improve the status quo. But the text falls unfortunately short of some important provisions such as accessibility of transport, especially urban public transport, and buildings. A unique opportunity for the EU The European Accessibility Act was a unique opportunity for Europe. It was intended as a means to implement the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) that the EU and all its Members States have already ratified. It was also supposed to clarify references to accessibility in existing legislation such as the Public Procurement Directive and the EU Structural Funds Regulations, which include binding provisions to procure accessible products and services, but do not provide specific accessibility requirements to do so. While it has not fulfilled those goals completely, the EU disability movement considers this a crucial first step. Further legislation and other non-legislative initiatives can build upon the Accessibility Act to ensure that for example also the building of the bank is accessible, and not just the ATM. Or that a wheelchair user will be able to board a tram or a local bus after using the accessible ticketing machine or payment terminal. EDF and its members will keep working and campaigning actively to improve the accessibility situation in the EU according to the motto “Nothing about us without us!”. Marie Denninghaus, Policy Coordinator, European Disability Forum 2 6 / SOC I A L AG E NDA / MA R C H 2 0 1 9