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Parliamentary question - E-003265/2017Parliamentary question
E-003265/2017

Improved access to wheelchair servicing for disabled persons

Question for written answer E-003265-17
to the Commission
Rule 130
Patricija Šulin (PPE) , Monica Macovei (ECR)

There are around 80 million people with disabilities in the EU. Many of them need wheelchairs, which must be regularly serviced. In many EU countries, disabled people live outside the main urban centres far away from servicing facilities. They face major financial as well as logistical challenges in ensuring that their wheelchairs are maintained and regularly serviced, given that an electric wheelchair weighs well in excess of 150 kg.

One of the objectives of the European strategy for persons with disabilities is to ensure that they have access to goods and services as well as mobility equipment or assistive devices. In addition, the integration of persons with disabilities is laid down in Article 26 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Has the Commission considered drawing up guidelines or recommendations for improving both financial and physical access to electric and manual wheelchair servicing for persons with disabilities?