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This Charter was adopted by the ECMT Council of Ministers
on 19 and 20 May 1999 in Warsaw.
It underlines the political commitment in Europe to ensuring
that all new transport infrastructure should be constructed
to take into account the needs of people with disabilities
1. The number of disabled people is growing
Disabled people make up a significant and growing part of Europe's
population. With the ageing population, this number will increase
substantially over the next 50 years. By 2020, there will be twice
as many people over 65 in Europe as there were in 1960.
2. Everyone must have an opportunity for independent living
It is unequivocal and agreed political objective to create a
Europe in which all citizens, regardless of disability or age,
have the opportunity for independent living. To achieve this,
public buildings, the transport systems and infrastructure must
be barrier-free.
3. New infrastructure must take account of the needs of people
with disabilities
There are many new transport and infrastructure projects being
planned or constructed in Europe. The lifetime of transport equipment
and infrastructure can be extremely long and projects being considered
now will remain in service will into the next millennium. It is
therefore essential that these are built to meet the needs of
disabled people. In any case, improvements in accessibility add
to the system's quality and usually benefit all travellers.
4. Governments must ensure access
All governments have a clear responsibility to ensure that these
projects are designed and constructed to the highest standards of
accessibility.
5. Accessibility principles must be followed
Fundamental principles applying to any project must include:
a) All projects considered for public funding (at national
or international level) must, as a condition of this funding,
agree to incorporate full accessibility, to approved standards
or recognised best practice, into the design and construction.
b) The design concept, from its earliest stage and throughout
the design process, must be vetted and approved by experts in
accessibility, including people with disabilities. National
governments will propose and approve suitable sources of advice.
Where national governments do not have sources of advice, the
EU or the ECIVIT will provide them.
c) The accessibility requirements must incorporate as
a minimum:
- full access for wheelchair users (up to and including those
using wheelchairs of ISO standard dimensions) including, where
appropriate, accessible toilet facilities and lifts;
- features to aid people with difficulties in walking, gripping,
reaching or balancing (including non-slip surfaces, hand rails
and handholds);
- 'facilities to assist blind and partially sighted people
(including consistent use of colour contrast, clear signing
and lighting, non-reflective surfaces, audible as well as
visual announcements and tactile and audible guidance and
warning surfaces and systems (where appropriate);
- facilities for people who are deaf or hard of hearing (including
visual as well as audible announcements, induction loops and
clear signs).
6. Public funding will be conditional
Projects will be monitored for compliance with accessibility
principles. Continued public funding will be made conditional
on achieving satisfactory progress with the inclusion of access
features.
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