1. Inmaculada Placencia Porrero Unit C3 Disability and Inclusion
Side event advancing accessible and inclusive urban development for all: The EU experience
Inmaculada Placencia Porrero
Senior Expert
Unit C3 Disability and Inclusion
European Commission
DG EMPL

2. Accessibility at EU level
UNCRPD - 18 EU legal acts relevant to accessibility
EDS – 58 legal act relevant to accessibility
Thematic:
Built environment
Transport
ICT
Public Procurement
Structural Funds, Development Funds, Enlargement
Antidiscrimination (under adoption)

3. Rights - > Non-discrimination -> equal access!!!!
Accessibility
(following design for all) +
Reasonable accommodation
(assistive technologies, assistance)

4. Eurobarometer -66% respondents buy, or pay, more for accessibility
-94% agree that more money should be spent on eliminating physical obstacles
-47% believe better accessibility would improve opportunities for industry to sell products to people with disabilities and the elderly.
- 78% think common rules in the EU will make it easier for companies to operate in another EU country.

5. SME Panel
-Extra costs of accessibility estimated less than 5% of production costs.
-Companies that provide accessible goods and services
55% have increased their clientele as a result of improving the accessibility
39% have experienced increases in their financial benefits
-50% agree that they could more easily benefit from the internal market if accessibility requirements were harmonised at the EU level.
-74% would find the adoption of EU standards useful, setting out accessibility requirements.

6. Accessibility related standardization work at EU level
-Mandate 376: Accessibility requirements for public procurement of products and services in the ICT domain
-Mandate 420: Accessibility requirements for public procurement in the Built Environment (including transport infrastructures)
-Mandate 473 to include Accessibility following Design For All in relevant standardization activities
Others…..

7. Policy and legal instruments
-Legislation
-Requirements of accessibility in funds
-Research
-Training
-Accessibility resources
-Awards