Accessibility
ACCESSIBILITY AT THE EVENT
The European Parliament strives to make the EYE accessible to all young people.
For deaf and hearing impaired participants, the European Parliament offers international sign-language interpretation (ISL) for all Hemicycle sessions and for a number of other activities. In addition, speech-to-text automatic captioning and translation (S2T) is available for activities in Churchill 200 and in N 1.3, and induction-loop systems are present in the European Parliament and the EYE Village.
For participants with a physical disability, the European Parliament has ensured that all the activities and spaces are accessible by installing ramps where necessary. Specialised van transport can be requested to connect the event site to your hotel or any other location in Strasbourg. A special podium is foreseen in front of the stage for participants with a physical disability.
Parking is available near the EYE premises with a possibility to drop off participants next to the EYE Village.
Trained volunteers will support people with disabilities throughout the two-day event, assisting them in moving between activities both indoors and outdoors. Additionally, volunteers present at the entrance of the European Parliament’s self-service restaurant/canteen will be available to provide assistance during lunch. The bars are equipped with wheelchair-accessible tables and cash tills.
Please contact the EYE helpline should you wish to use any of the measures mentioned above. All activities offering ISL and S2T will be marked in the activities booking system.
For participants requiring a quiet place, a ‘quiet room’ has been set up inside the Parliament equipped with exercise balls, bean bags, jelly, mandala sheets, white paper and coloured pencils, squishy toys, fairy lights, and weighted blankets. In the EYE Village, also has a ‘chill out’ area called the “Park”. Guided meditation sessions, colouring workshops and a quiet space with board games, colouring books and creative sets for making bracelets are available there.
A prayer room is also be available for people wishing to pray or meditate during the event.
FINANCIAL INCLUSIVITY
The European Parliament is committed to ensuring full access and participation at EYE2025 for all young people aged between 16 and 30.
Active and engaged groups of young people were able to apply for a financial contribution to attend the event via an open call which was open in November 2024. Priority was given to young people with disabilities, from rural or remote areas and/or from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds (560 people).
In October 2024, the European Parliament and the European Youth Forum, coordinating the EYE Village programme, launched two calls to propose and organise activities during the event. Selected activity organisers receive a lump sum to partially cover their travel and accommodation expenses (400 people).
Young people were also encouraged to contact Members of the European Parliament from their constituency or country, who could choose to sponsor a group to attend the event. The deadline to apply was 11 April.
OUR COMMITTMENT
In addition to the actions mentioned above, this year the EYE has also collaborated with EUDY – the European Union of the Deaf Youth – to produce tutorials in International Sign Language to guide participants through the event registration process.
Despite our efforts, we may have overlooked elements that could make the EYE even more accessible. If you have suggestions, please let us know by contacting the helpline. If we cannot accommodate the request for this edition, we will try our best to do so for the next one.