Europe’s Accessible Cities are setting new benchmarks in continual efforts to improve accessibility.
European cities play an important role in providing good access for both their own citizens with disabilities and tourists of all ages and abilities. Many European cities are working steadily to build and maintain their reputation as accessible, livable cities to give every visitor a warm welcome.
For this reason, the European Commission launched the European Prize for Accessible Cities in May 2010 and honors cities that:
- have demonstrably improved accessibility in basic aspects of city life
- their built environment and public spaces are accessible to everyone
- have accessible transport and infrastructure for people with disabilities
- take advantage of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
- provide efficient public facilities and services
- commit to a sustainable improvement in accessibility
- act as a role model and encourage other European cities in the adoption of good practices.
The Access City Award 2021 goes to the city of Jönköping in Sweden. There, the new and old parts of the city have been continuously improved in cooperation with organizations for the disabled. The city has also created a local “Access City Award” for local companies or organizations that have worked with their customers to improve accessibility. From 50 applications, Jönköping was selected as the winner of the 11th edition of the Access City Awards at the online ceremony on December 1st.
The city of Bremerhaven (Germany) and the city of Gdynia (Poland) are the winners of the second and third place of the Access City Awards 2021.
Poznań (Poland) received a special mention for the accessibility of public services in times of pandemic. Komotini (Greece) received two other honorable mentions for “Accessibility as an opportunity for the whole city” and Florence in Italy for the “built environment”.
The ACCESS4All project supports an integrated approach, the capacity building of key-factors involved directly or indirectly with the disabled people integration.
To read more about the award click here: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=en&catId=1141