European Disability Card (EDC)
The EDC-EPC Directive (2024/2841) was adopted on 23 October 2024. It must be transposed into the national legislation of each Member State by 5 June 2027 and will enter into force on 14 May 2028.
Positive opinion from the Platform of Advisory Councils for People with Disabilities
In 2025, the Platform of Advisory Councils for Persons with Disabilities issued a positive opinion to the competent minister on the transposition of the EDC-EPC Directive into Belgian law: the use of these cards in all Member States of the European Union will facilitate travel for persons with disabilities within the Union.
Developing a bottom-up idea is possible!
The original request for the EDC Directive project came from the General Assembly of the BDF in 2009. The BDF proposed introducing a card for the recognition of a disability, which would facilitate the free movement of people with disabilities within the Union.
The EDC’s idea was based on six simple principles:
- a clear and unambiguous instrument, recognised by all;
- irrefutable proof of the disability;
- recognition of the disability by the country issuing the card;
- mutual recognition of the card by the participating countries;
- a card that is easy to use, on a strictly voluntary basis;
- a non-discriminatory solution: the same benefits within the same territory for all people with disabilities, regardless of their disability, age, nationality, etc.
The BDF submitted its project to the European Disability Forum (EDF) and subsequently to the European Commission, which turned it into a pilot project involving eight Member States. Ultimately, the BDF’s original idea led to a directive creating a card valid throughout the European Union. The essential elements of the original proposal have been retained.
It is therefore possible to put forward an idea in Europe through a bottom-up approach!
