2021 EU Access City Award goes to Jönköping
The Swedish city of Jönköping won the Access City Award 2021 for the development of an accessible environment for people with disabilities, ahead of 50 other European contenders.
The award was established by the European Commission together with the European Disability Forum to support barrier-free environment and equal access in EU cities with a more than 50,000 inhabitants and is awarded for the 11th time.
Previously, Avila (Spain), Salzburg (Austria), Berlin (Germany), Milan (Italy), Chester (Great Britain), Lyon (France), Breda (Netherlands) and Warsaw (Poland) became the winners of the competition. Swedish cities have already received the award twice - in 2014, Gothenburg, and Boras in 2015.
Jönköping, in the south of Sweden, made continuous improvements in both the new and old areas of the city, in collaboration with disability organisations. The city also created a local ‘Access City Award’, for businesses or organisations that worked with their customers to improve accessibility.
The city of Bremerhaven in Germany and the city of Gdynia in Poland are the second and third place winners of the 2021 Access City Award.
Poznań in Poland received a special mention for accessibility of public services in times of the pandemic. Two further special mentions were awarded to Komotini in Greece for “accessibility as an opportunity for the whole city” and Florence in Italy for the “built environment”.
Announcing the winner, Commissioner for Equality, Helena Dalli said: “Creating a barrier-free Europe is about more than buildings and pavements. It is about commitment to change that improves people's quality of life and that enables persons with disabilities to participate in society on an equal basis with others. Accessibility is important for everyone, and it is indispensable for persons with disabilities. I will ensure that this crucial subject remains in the forefront of our actions. The upcoming Strategy on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2030 will be our main instrument to further improve all areas of the lives of persons with disabilities.”