Brussels, 15/11/2010 (Agence Europe) - Growing the European market for assisted devices and services, which is already currently worth an estimated €30 billion plus, and making it easier for people with disabilities to access - that is the wish of the European Commission which, on Monday 15 November, adopted its new strategy for persons with disabilities for 2010 to 2020. It is also considering whether to propose a “European Accessibility Act” to further develop the single market for accessible products and services.
The Commission wants to promote standardisation through more targeted use of public procurement and state aid rules - measures which will have substantial societal benefits, and should also produce a knock-on effect on Europe's economy. It also has to make it easier for a handicapped person to travel to other countries, by means, for example, of mutually recognised national disabled cards. Commission Vice-President with responsibility for Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship Viviane Reding, whose “goal is a truly barrier-free Europe for persons with disabilities by 2020”, said: “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”.
Among other measures contained in the new strategy, the Commission highlights: (1) funding: ensuring that EU programmes and funds in policy areas relevant to people with disabilities are used to promote sound working conditions for professional and informal care providers and develop personal-assistance schemes; (2) more cooperation between member states (through the High Level Group on Disability) and civil society: providing a forum for the exchange of data and policy coordination, in particular on the portability of rights, such as the right to personal assistance.
One person in six in the European Union - around 80 million people - has some form of disability. Over one third of people aged over 75 have disabilities that restrict them to some extent. These numbers are set to rise as the EU population grows progressively older. (G.B./transl.rt)