Ljubljana received the bronze Access City Award 2015

In the last decade, the Slovenian capital has been consistently developing and attracting more and more visitors from all over the world. In the beginning of December, Ljubljana received the bronze Access city Award 2015, which is given out by the European Commission. This recognition places Ljubljana among the most successful European cities in the field of public space accessibility for people with disabilities.

More than 60 European cities participated in this year`s competition to receive the Access City Award, which is given out by the European Commission. At the award ceremony in Brussels in the beginning of December, the Swedish city of Boras received the golden award, the Finnish city of Helsinki the silver award and Ljubljana the bronze award.

Access City Award is an initiative of the European Commission designed to provide incentives for achieving fundamental objectives of the European Disability Strategy for the period 2010 – 2020. Its purpose is to highlight and award cities which systematically plan and implement measures to improve accessibility of urban environment for people with disabilities in relation to public spaces, housing, playgrounds, public transport and communication technology.

Ljubljana is well aware how important accessible infrastructure is for the quality of life, since it is directly related to education, culture, sports, social care and health. Ensuring accessibility to persons with disabilities has for many years been one of the priorities and ongoing activities of the City Municipality of Ljubljana. In 2009, the Association of Disabled Workers of Slovenia awarded the City Municipality of Ljubljana the "Disabled People Friendly Municipality" document. In the Ljubljana old city centre, a special restaurant Druga violina is a hit, employing several persons with special needs.

Ongoing efforts to ensure the accessibility of the city centre were recognised also internationally, when Ljubljana received a special Access City Award in 2012 for increasing accessibility and related infrastructure. The City Municipality of Ljubljana equipped buses with devices for audio and video communication on exit stations, bus stop signs in Braille and a touch-sensitive map of the city centre. This greatly facilitated the use of the infrastructure of this charming city to all citizens and other visitors.

The fact that Ljubljana was among the top ranked cities in the final selection of such an important competition is no surprise. It is a result of hard work and good practices which greatly contribute to building a better, friendlier and more accessible Europe.

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