The countdown to the launch of the European Disabled Persons’ Benefits Card in Europe has already started!

The directives on the European Disability Card and the European Parking Card have been published in the Official Journal of the EU on 14 November 2024. This marks the final step for the directives to become official law, starting the countdown for member states to implement them.EU member states now have up to 30 months to adapt their regulations into national law (a process called transposition) and up to 42 months from the date of publication in the Official Journal to establish the necessary systems and start issuing the cards.This means that the European Disability Card should become a reality in all EU countries within a maximum of 3.5 years, or by 5 June 2028. EDF encourages EU countries to prioritize strong national legislation and begin adopting and issuing the cards as soon as possible.Meanwhile, during this period, EDF will support its members with resources to ensure that the national rules underpinning the cards are ambitious and exceed minimum standards.Freedom of movement still not achievedHowever, the cards will not enable complete freedom of movement for persons with disabilities. EDF plans to advocate for further legislation to ensure that persons with disabilities can move freely and live anywhere in the EU, including the ability to live and work abroad without losing necessary support.Article by: Andre Felix, EDF Cover photo: www.europarl.europa.eu