EU launches competition for 2017 Access City Award

The European Commission announced on Wednesday that it launched the competition for the 2017 Access City Award, the European award for cities that are accessible to disabled and older people.

European Union cities with over 50,000 inhabitants are invited to submit their applications by September 2016.

The awards would be granted to five EU cities at a ceremony taking place during the annual European Day of People with Disabilities Conference in Brussels on Nov. 29, 2016, said the Commission.

The winning cities would be rewarded for their efforts to make it easier for disabled and older people to gain access to public and private areas such as housing, children's play areas, work environments, public transport, and communication technologies.

European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labor Mobility Marianne Thyssen called for "as many cities as possible to apply for the 2017 Access City Award."

"One in six Europeans lives with a disability. Last year, the Commission put forward the European Accessibility Act to step up social inclusion and independent living of people with disabilities. Many innovative practices developed by European cities to achieve accessible living and working environments are also important drivers to improve accessibility," said the commissioner.

The Access City Award is organized by the European Commission together with the European Disability Forum. Enditem