A Press Release issued by Emine Bozkurt (Member of Dutch Social Democrat Party)
The European Parliament supported today the appeal of Dutch Social Democrat Member Emine Bozkurt for significant improvement of the rights of air passengers with disabilities.
Bozkurt: “It is unacceptable that disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility are still being turned away by airline companies because they need to bring medical devices on board. I have raised this issue with European Commissioner Kallas in December 2010 already and I am pleased that my colleagues in the Parliament have collectively spoken out today that they support the initiative. It is high time that the European Commission finally puts an end to these practices and actively starts to combat discrimination of citizens.”
Today’s report calls on the European Commission to ensure that disabled citizens or citizens with limited mobility can at all times make use of mobility aid equipment and to ensure that a list is set up with medical devices that should be accepted on board in the whole of Europe. Also discriminatory practices must come to an end, such as the signing of statements before boarding by disabled citizens so that flight carriers are not liable for damage to devices on board.
Commissioner Kallas answered Bozkurt in January 2011 by stating that the European Commission considers it vital that airline companies comply with their obligations regarding the provision of clear information on the conditions of carriage for medical equipment of passengers on board and has stated that any restrictions can only be based on security reasons.
For more information: Emine Bozkurt, T +31 655 844 595