Source: European Parliament
In the current multiannual financial framework 2021-2027, different funding instruments, notably the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) and Cohesion Policy Funds can be used to support barrier-free access to transport.
CEF finances actions to improve transport infrastructure accessibility, and to date has included a particular focus on accessibility for persons with reduced mobility in railway stations[1].
T he Social Climate Fund was established to support vulnerable groups, among others, in the fair transition to clean mobility. Provided that the conditions of Regulation (EU) 2023/955[2] are respected, a part of this money could be used by Member States to improve the access of persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility to sustainable transport solutions, including making public transport infrastructure more accessible.
The revised guidelines for the development of the trans-European network (TEN-T)[3] require that, when developing the TEN-T infrastructure, priority should be given, among others, to measures improving accessibility for all users, including persons with disabilities or reduced mobility.
This should be pursued in particular by means of better integration of the different transport modes into the urban nodes, including by developing multimodal passenger hubs, which should facilitate seamless connections of TEN-T to public transport infrastructure by 2030.
The European Union has adopted a wide range of legislation to bring about improvements in access to transport for persons with disabilities and persons with reduced mobility[4].
The President of the Commission has indicated in her political guidelines[5] the new Commission’s commitment to implement and enforce EU legislation in this area.
See annex : Annex
- [1] Since 2014, nearly 150 CEF projects included such measures.
- [2] Regulation (EU) 2023/955 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 May 2023 establishing a Social Climate Fund and amending Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 — OJ L 130, 16.5.2023, p. 1-51.
- [3] Regulation (EU) 2024/1679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 on Union guidelines for the development of the trans-European transport network, amending Regulations (EU) 2021/1153 and (EU) No 913/2010 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1315/2013 (Text with EEA relevance) OJ L, 2024/1679.
- [4] Please find a non-exhaustive list of EU legislation which improve the barrier free access of people with disabilities to transport in the annex to this reply.
- [5] https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/e6cd4328-673c-4e7a-8683-f63ffb2cf648_en?filename=Political%20Guidelines%202024-2029_EN.pdf