EU agrees on disability card accepted across the bloc
EU states and lawmakers have reached an agreement on a law that would pave the way for a disability card accepted across the 27-nation bloc, the European Parliament said on Friday. Negotiators struck a deal on Thursday on measures that the European Union believes will make life easier for 87 million people with disabilities and their families. The agreement also includes ensuring that parking permits for people with a disability are accepted all over the EU. Brussels proposed the law last year because when people with disability cards travel to other EU countries, their ID cards are not always recognised by other member states. This means they are sometimes unable to obtain priority access, reduced tariffs and special assistance. "We have achieved agreement on a milestone piece of legislation that persons with disabilities were expecting for a decade," said Dragos Pislaru, chair of the employment and social affairs parliamentary committee. "It will support them to be independent and on equal footing now that the cards will soon become a reality in all EU countries. This will help them considerably when travelling to other member states," he said. The agreement will become law after formal approval by member states and the parliament. (AFP)