Beginning of the Conference "Across Europe Without Barriers"

Good afternoon Ladies and Gentlemen,

Please allow me to say a few words on the topic in this block. I am honoured that I can participate at this conference, which is being held during the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU, characteristically entitled “Across Europe Without Barriers”.

Removal of barriers may be understood and seen on different levels. In the context of the unified Europe the term is most often understood in connection with the opening of borders and removal of obstacles to business, travel, education, on the labour market and so on. The unified Europe is a symbol of open space and open opportunities, and the removal of barriers is primary goal and purpose of the European Union. This term needs to be understood in the widest possible sense of this word. Europe must be accessible and “barrier-free” not only in as many spheres as possible but it also needs to be accessible and barrier-free for all its citizens, i.e. also for the citizens with disabilities, who live, work and travel throughout the European Union countries.

In connection with disabilities the most frequent topic is the removal of physical barriers. That is the fundamental condition in order to provide access to services, which are being offered on any premises to all citizens. For the disabled citizens the advantages such as freedom of movement and other opportunities, which present themselves in Europe, may be fully exploitable only when the physical space, i.e. the public infrastructure, transportation systems, etc., is accessible to the maximum degree. Barrier-free parking may serve as an example. Barrier-free parking is, for the persons with reduced mobility or with other disabilities, a significant prerequisite to their mobility; without this convenience they would otherwise face a severe restriction of their freedom of movement and also of other activities based on this freedom. Within Europe this issue is addressed by the recommendation of the Council of the EU and resolved by gradual introduction of the European parking cards, which exist to facilitate the parking spaces reserved for the citizens with disabilities from all EU countries. Considering the latest developments in this area it may be anticipated that the European parking cards will be distributed on a full-area basis and used in near future in all EU countries, i.e. also in the Czech Republic. A discussion is being opened on the EU level now, and it focuses on some sort of a general card for the disabled people valid across Europe, which could be used in a way similar to the parking card all around EU, and which would offer a broader range of benefits in all sorts of areas. Due to the scope of this plan and the differences prevailing in various Member States of the Union, this topic will be intensively negotiated in the future and subject to debate and analyses, which shall evaluate and assess the possibility of introducing and using of such cards in the EU in the broader context.

Another of the current themes closely related to the issues of freedom of movement, and which is the main topic of this block, is the international project EUROKEY. This project, which has been running in Western Europe and in the United States successfully for several years, significantly contributes to the increased mobility everywhere it is used. The advantages of the introduction of the Eurokey for the Czech Republic could be observed in several ways. The Eurokey would contribute to the greater freedom of movement on the territory of the Czech Republic for its citizens, but also for all citizens coming to this country, who use the Eurokey. The same would apply in the other direction. After the introduction of the Eurokey the Czech citizens would enjoy an improved mobility in many European countries in comparison with the current situation. Considering the fact that this is an international project based on the mutual cooperation of several countries, the success and effect of which is higher and more pronounced with more countries implementing it, it is important to adopt it, if possible, in all European countries. By the introduction of the Eurokey in the Czech Republic and by joining the project we can significantly contribute to its further expansion and to provide for the “Europe without barriers”, which we chose as the motto of our Presidency.

Making our environment accessible and removing barriers in all areas of society are very up-to-date subjects. Due to the global trend of ageing of the population the issues of disabilities and of the removal of the barriers are no longer issues of a single group of people but they become issues affecting a growing number of people. They must be taken into account and accepted not as some sort of an anomaly or peculiarity but as a natural part of life of a contemporary society. Europe is facing a great challenge, and it depends on all of us how we will address this challenge and how we will provide for the united Europe to become truly an area without barriers to the freedom of movement.

Thank you for your attention.