Why bother with Brussels? Leonard Cheshire Disability

Leonard Cheshire Disability (LCD) exists to change attitudes to disability and supports disabled people to campaign for change. The EU is a huge source of legislation for all member states and LCD recognises the importance of lobbying at the source.

LCD conducted research into disabled people's experiences of air travel. The report, Now Boarding, revealed that air travel still remains largely inaccessible for many disabled people. It identified two key problems:

Disabled passengers needs not being passed between the travel agent, the airline and the airport
Staff training not including proper disability and equality training

Identifying regulation as opportunity for change

In 2006 an EU regulation concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air was adopted. This regulation made it illegal for anyone to be unreasonably denied access onboard a plane due to a disability from July 2007 onwards.

A second phase of the regulation would then come into force in July 2008 making it the responsibility of the airport to provide assistance to disabled passengers, from arrival to boarding the flight.

LCD welcomed this EU legislation, but was concerned that airports were not doing enough to prepare for these changes. LCD recognised the implementation stage of this legislation was an opportunity to change things that weren't right with air travel. LCD's campaign focused on implementation of the EU regulation on the ground in the UK.

Representation in Europe

This campaign is largely focussed on the implementation of the changes in UK airports. However, Barry O'Connell, a local campaigner from Clacton, represented LCD at a key conference on air passenger rights for disabled people, held in Brussels in April 2008. The conference brought together representatives from the European air industry, national enforcement bodies and disability organisations to discuss the challenges of implementing the new European Regulation.

From EU policy to changes in UK practice

LCD produced a campaigns pack for campaigners to place pressure on airports. This included a sample letter for people to send to airports to ask how they were preparing for the law.

A questionnaire was also conducted which provided the opportunity to gain detailed accounts of disabled people's experiences with air travel. In some cases, negative attitudes towards disabled people had discouraged the disabled person from using air travel again. Now Boarding!

LCD visited Gatwick airport with a group of campaigners to conduct an accessibility audit and meet with the staff providing the service to talk through potential issues and how they might be solved.

The campaigning continues

The regulation has only recently been implemented in full and LCD are working with the Department for Transport and the Equalities and Human Rights Commission who are responsible for monitoring and promoting the new regulation, to ensure that changes happen on the ground and lead to better access to and experiences of air travel.

Learning from this campaign

EU lobbying can be a long process but it does have many entry points (MEPs, national governments, political groups in the European Parliament, the European Commission, European NGOs) which offer many opportunities for campaigners. Put your points across to the different actors who are involved in the policy-making process.
Work with partners - build coalitions with a common position
Speak with one voice both in the UK and at European level.
Self advocacy - it really makes a difference when the campaign is user/beneficiary led. People directly affected by the issues the campaign is aiming to tackle will know exactly what the problems are and provide the moral case for your argument. EU intuitions recognise this and will tend to be more receptive if you are involving those you represent in your campaigning.
MEPs are approachable. Brussels might sound very distant from the UK but it's possible to meet your MEP. Check out the website of the UK office of the European Parliament to see who your MEP is and how to contact him or her.

With thanks to Sophie Heitz and Katie Turner, Leonard Cheshire Disability.

Back to What can be achieved - inspiration and ideas from campaigners

Back to Why bother with Brussels?