The Access City European Award is organised by the Commission together with the European Disability Forum, and was presented on the occasion of the annual European Day of People with Disabilities conference in Brussels. The competition was launched in 2010 to promote cities accessibility in the urban contest for people with disabilities and reduced mobility. All EU cities of over 50.000 inhabitants are considered qualified to participate (a total of 99 cities from 20 EU member states applied for the 2013 award). For these citizens getting the best of the city facilities that we all take for granted can be an obstacle to their everyday life.
What “accessibility” means exactly? “Accessibility” means that people with disabilities have access, on an equal basis with others, to the physical environment, transportation, information and communications technologies and systems, and other facilities and services. They are an essential part of the economic, social and political structure of the society, improving the infrastructures to improve the freedom of movement in every city it’s a source of benefits for everybody. This Award want to be an incentive for every city in Europe, awarding the progress that individual city are making in this field.
This year the prize has been awarded to Berlin in recognition of the city comprehensive and strategic approach to creating an accessible city for all. The prize aims to encourage cities to share their experience and to improve accessibility for the benefit of all.”People with disabilities still face too many barriers in everyday life, but cities like Berlin are leading the way in making life more accessible for all,” said Vice-President Reding, the EU’s Justice Commissioner. “Accessibility offers new business opportunities and can be a real stimulus for innovation and economic growth. That is why accessibility is at the heart of the European disability strategy and why we are preparing our proposals for a European Accessibility Act, which I intend to present next year.”
The jury selected Berlin for its strategic and inclusive disability policy, which has invested heavily in turning the formerly divided city into an accessible, barrier-free environment. The jury highlighted Berlin’s transport system and investment in accessibility for disabled people in reconstruction projects. Berlin’s comprehensive approach to accessibility is fully embedded in the city’s policies and broadly supported by its decision-makers. The other finalists were Nantes (France) and Stockholm (Sweden).
Accessibility is just one more factor that makes Berlin so attractive for every category of investors.
Source: http://ec.europa.eu/justice/discrimination/disabilities/award/index_en.htm
