Photo: Borås-wins-Access-City-Award

Borås wins Access City Award

03 December 2014

by Richard Forster

Representatives from the Swedish city of Borås have been recognised for their efforts to make their city more accessible for disabled and older people by winning this year’s European Access City Award.

Announced today in Brussels during the European Day for People with Disabilities, the small Swedish city was chosen from seven other finalists by a special jury.

“People with disabilities should be able to fully participate in society,” said Marianne Thyssen, European Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs, Skills and Labour Mobility. “Job creation and accessibility are top priority for the European Commission and I am personally committed to taking action in these areas. I would like to congratulate Borås for leading the way in making life more accessible for all.”

The award is part of the EU’s wider efforts to create a barrier-free Europe. By improving accessibility, organisers believe that this will bring lasting economic and social benefits to cities, especially in the context of demographic ageing.

David Blunkett, Chairman of the Jury and former UK Home Secretary
David Blunkett, Chairman of the Jury and former UK Home Secretary

“With an ageing population and a welcome emphasis on quality, the commitment and investment by so many cities in all forms of accessibility is extremely welcome,” David Blunkett, Chairman of the Jury, former UK Home Secretary and Britain’s first blind cabinet member, told Cities Today. “By sharing good practise and encouraging innovation it is possible to [create] a very different experience for those with special requirements than in the past.”

Helsinki and Ljubljana were noted for their efforts by being placed second and third respectively. Special mentions were also given to; Logroño, Spain, in the field of the built environment and public spaces; Budapest, Hungary, for its work in the field of transport; and Arona, Spain, and Luxembourg for their achievements in public facilities and services.

The annual Access City Award 2015 is the fifth edition organised by the European Commission. It recognises and celebrates cities’ efforts to make it easier for disabled and older people to gain access to public spaces; transport; information and communication; and public facilities and services.

“I hope that the European wide initiative will encourage cities and towns to have a focused and dedicated approach to opening up to everyone what is taken for granted by those without physical or sensory challenges,” added Blunkett.

One in six people in the European Union–around 80 million–have a disability that ranges from mild to severe. Over one third of people aged over 75 have disabilities that restrict them to some extent. These numbers are set to rise as the EU population grows progressively older.

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