Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the 'Draft Council recommendation on a parking card for disabled persons`

(96/C 174/06)

On 30 January 1996 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee, under Articles 75 and 198 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, on the above-mentioned Draft Council recommendation.

The Section for Social, Family, Educational and Cultural Affairs, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its Opinion on 14 March 1996. The Rapporteur was Mrs Wahrolin.

At its 334th Plenary Session (meeting of 27 March 1996), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following Opinion unanimously.

1. Introduction

1.1. The Commission of the European Communities has proposed a recommendation on a parking card for disabled persons (COM(95) 696 final).

1.2. For the vast majority of disabled people, the car is an unrivalled means of transport. Measures to adapt public transport and the traffic environment are constructive and necessary. Similarly, special transport is indispensable for those who can neither travel by car or public transport. Yet none of these solutions can provide the freedom and independence afforded by the car. Another important factor is the increasing need to travel in order to take part in the various activities of a normal social and cultural life.

1.3. This surge in travel also includes the growing stream of people who move between the EU Member States. More and more are spending a long or short period of time in another Member State as cooperation develops. This applies not just to tourism, but to temporary jobs, assignments, conferences, etc., where it must be assumed that disabled people will be in a position to take part on an equal footing with others. This means, for example, being able to travel in one's own car, or to hire a car in the country of arrival. It also means that there must be a right to park under the same conditions as citizens of that country whose mobility is reduced.

2. Background

2.1. The recommendation adopted at the European Conference of Ministers of Transport in 1977, and which applies to European OECD countries, leaves several problems unsolved. Parking card format differs greatly from one EU country to another, although some do resemble the model suggested by the Commission. The differences are so great that a card issued by the authorities in one country might not always be recognized as a parking card in another. Added to this are language problems, since the parking card text is usually only written in the language(s) of the issuing country.

2.2. Experience has also shown that there is considerable uncertainty amongst parking cardholders concerning parking facility entitlement in the countries they intend to visit. There is also a decided lack of information concerning the regulations the cardholder must comply with when using the parking card.

2.3. The problem is compounded by the differences of opinion, both within and between Member States, concerning the criteria for issuing a parking card for disabled persons. It would probably be a very complicated process to draw up common regulations on this issue. However, it should be pointed out that people with reduced mobility are not the only ones to need a parking card. But this is a matter for national governments.

2.4. Neither does the solution proposed by the Commission necessitate EU involvement in this complex process, since the proposal lays down that each country shall accept the decision of the issuing country. Consequently parking card entitlement is, and remains, a national matter.

3. Contents of the proposal

3.1. It is suggested that the parking card should be plastic-coated, thus providing some protection against forgery. Further measures could be taken to provide even better protection against forgery, without changing the appearance and character of the card.

3.2. The parking card is light blue, with the wheelchair-user symbol in white on a dark blue background on the front left-hand side, i.e. the format soon to be used the world over, and which corresponds to parking signs in specially designated disabled parking areas. (There is a general problem that such disabled parking areas are often too small). Moreover, essential information is included, i.e. period of validity, serial number, and the issuing authority, thus making it possible to check authenticity.

3.3. The vehicle registration number may be included as optional information on the left-hand side. Whilst the aim of this is to prevent the card being used by the wrong person in the wrong car, the result would be that it cannot be used by the cardholder to hire or borrow a vehicle in another place or country. The Committee feels that a considerable part of the intent of a common format for EU parking cards is thus lost. The Committee is well aware that authorization is a national matter and must remain so. However, it would urge that the authorization should be assigned to the individual disabled person so that the parking card will be valid regardless of whether that person drives his/her private car, hires or borrows a vehicle or travels as a passenger. Hence, in the Committee's view, the vehicle registration number should not be indicated on the parking card.

3.4. The top right-hand side contains the words 'Parking card for disabled persons` in the language(s) of the issuing Member State. Underneath appear the words 'Parking card` in the other languages of the European Union. Together with the disabled symbol, this ought to eliminate any uncertainty as to the purpose of the card. The right-hand side also contains the distinguishing code of the Member State, in white, surrounded by the ring of 12 stars symbolizing the European Union. The bottom right-hand corner contains confirmation that the card complies with the European Communities model.

3.5. The reverse of the card gives information regarding the cardholder's identity, parking facility entitlement and how the card must be displayed in the car.

3.6. The Committee feels that the suggested size of the card is well-judged.

4. Further comments

4.1. Since there are certain differences between Member States, and even between different areas of the same country, concerning the way the parking card may be used, the Committee would suggest that the holders of the 'parking card for disabled persons` should also receive an information leaflet in their own language explaining the regulations governing the use of the parking card in EU Member States. The leaflet should also contain information on any existing local variation in the Member States. Cardholders are supposed to find out about the content of these variations themselves as the leaflet would be too exhaustive if variations were to be included.

4.2. Finally, the Committee believes the Commission's proposal for a recommendation is well thought-out and appropriate to achieve the declared objectives. The ESC would therefore recommend that the proposal be implemented.

Done at Brussels, 27 March 1996.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Carlos FERRER