European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities: extending to third country nationals legally residing in a Member State

The European Parliament adopted by 607 votes to 8, with 17 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council extending the Directive on the European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities for third country nationals legally residing in a Member State.

The European Parliament adopted its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure.

Under the amended text, the rules, rights and obligations set out in the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the European disability card and the European parking card for people with disabilities will apply to third-country nationals legally resident in a Member State who are not beneficiaries of that Directive and whose status as a person with a disability or entitlement to specific services on grounds of disability and the right to benefit from parking conditions and facilities reserved for disabled persons, have been recognised by the Member State of their residence, as well as to persons accompanying and helping them, including personal assistants, or to assistance animals.

For instance, third-country nationals who are beneficiaries of temporary protection under Council Directive 2001/55/EC or beneficiaries of international protection should be covered by this Directive, provided that they are legally residing in a Member State and that their disability status or entitlement to specific services based on a disability has been recognised by that Member State.

Member States are encouraged to provide information to third-country nationals with disabilities covered by this Directive in a language that they can understand or that they are reasonably expected to understand.

The amended text stated that third-country nationals with disabilities are at a heightened risk of being subject to multiple forms of discrimination. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities recognises the difficult conditions faced by persons with disabilities who are subject to multiple or aggravated forms of discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national, ethnic, indigenous or social origin, property, birth, age or other status.