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Liz LynneLiberal Democrat MEP for the West Midlands 1999-2012 |
Freedom Of Movement At Last For Disabled Passengers
February 16, 2005 2:00 PM
ALDE Disability Spokesperson in the European Parliament Liz Lynne has welcomed today's announcement by the European Commission that airports will have to provide assistance to disabled passengers rather than individual airlines.
The new rules will also mean that airlines will no longer be allowed to charge disabled passengers extra for the services they provide.
Liz, who called for a Disability Directive to cover the whole of the EU, when she drafted the Parliament's report supporting a UN Convention on Disabled People's Rights says this is a first step to achieving that aim.
"I very much welcome this announcement. At the moment not all airlines and airports cater for disabled people, which limits their choice of destination. Moving the responsibility for assisting disabled passengers from the airlines to the airport should mean a better and more consistent service.
"Disabled people currently face discrimination if they want to travel often charged for the privilege of having a wheelchair or being accompanied by their guide dog. Indeed despite changes to quarantine laws, which now mean guide dogs can travel with their owners in the cabin, only a handful of European routes currently permit this and charge passengers for the transportation of Guide Dogs.
"Last year the UK Government announced that at long last transport companies will in the future have to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. Although this was welcome news for disabled people in the UK, it still will not solve the problem they have when travelling abroad. That is why we need common rights for disabled people across the EU including in the new accession countries. Only a specific Disability Directive can ensure that disabled people can have access to goods and services as well as to employment in all parts of the EU."
ENDS
As well as being the rapporteur of the European Year of People with Disabilities 2003, Liz also drafted the Parliament's report supporting a UN Convention on Disabled People's Rights earlier that year.
As an MP she campaigned for equal rights for disabled people and worked on the Disability Discrimination Act.
Liz Lynne is also Vice-President of the European Parliament's Disability Intergroup.
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