Inclusive environment in Luxembourg

State policy and legislation in the field of accessibility

The Luxembourg government has a consistent policy in favour of the rights of people with disabilities, based on the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and national action plans. Although accessibility standards had been in place since 2001, in practice many public places remained difficult to access. Therefore, new, stricter laws have been adopted. In particular, the law of 7 January 2022 on universal accessibility strengthened the requirements for the physical environment. This law entered into force on 1 July 2023 and provides for a number of important measures:

In parallel, Luxembourg is implementing pan-European initiatives on inclusion. Thus, a law adapting the European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) was adopted in March 2023. From 28 June 2025, this act obliges a number of everyday products and services to be made available in a convenient form - from ATMs and ticket machines to e-commerce sites and online banking. Many technologies and services that have become an integral part of life were previously inaccessible to a portion of the population (e.g., ATMs without tactile markings or inaccessible mobile apps). The new rules are designed to remove these "invisible" barriers and ensure that people with disabilities and the elderly can use modern devices and digital services on an equal basis with everyone else. Together, national and European regulations form a solid legislative framework aimed at creating a truly barrier-free environment in Luxembourg.

Accessibility of public places and housing

Thanks to new building regulations, every public building is now designed with the principle of universal design in mind. The construction and reconstruction of facilities includes ramps, wide doorways, lifts and other means of access for people with reduced mobility. The requirements of the 2022 Act apply to both public institutions and private organisations open to the public. For example, when opening a new shop or office, the owners are obliged to ensure the possibility of unobstructed entry - either to design an entrance group without steps or to equip it with a ramp or a lift. As a result, more and more shops, banks, cafes and other places in Luxembourg are becoming wheelchair-friendly. Where direct compliance with the standards is difficult (especially in historic buildings), the law allows for flexible solutions that have an equivalent accessibility effect. Such solutions are coordinated through the Accessibility Council, which helps to find a balance between preserving architectural heritage and creating a comfortable environment for all.

Special attention is paid to urban infrastructure - streets, parks and squares. All new and reconstructed districts are equipped with lowered curbs at crossings, convenient ramps on pavements, tactile tiles for orientation of the visually impaired, and contrasting markings. Traffic lights are equipped with audible signals, allowing blind people to cross the road safely (orientated on the characteristic audible signs). Even in older neighbourhoods with paving stones and narrow pavements, city services install additional handrails where possible, make special smooth paths next to the paving stones or mark safe routes. Despite the abundance of paving stones, the capital of Luxembourg has managed to adapt to the mobility of people with reduced mobility. For example, the capital has comfortable slopes on pavements, and paths in parks are wide and smooth enough for wheelchairs and prams.

Most public buildings have also become much more accessible by 2025. Administrative institutions (communes, service centres, post offices, etc.) are equipped with ramps or lifts at the entrance, and many have automatic doors. Museums, libraries, theatres and other cultural facilities are actively removing barriers: installing lifts or elevating platforms, organising accessible routes to see exhibitions, offering wheelchair hire if necessary. New cinemas and concert halls are designed with wheelchair spaces in mind and equipped with special sound systems for the hearing impaired. Even temporary public events strive to be inclusive. For example, at the annual Schueberfouer city fair in Luxembourg, about 20 parking spaces are reserved each year for visitors with reduced mobility in the immediate vicinity of the entrance, most restaurant tents have portable ramps, and mobile toilets for the disabled are installed on the premises. The Info-Handicap association has been commissioned by the city administration to assess the accessibility of the fair and update the EureWelcome label, a special accessibility label for tourist attractions issued by the Ministry of Tourism. This marking helps visitors with disabilities to know in advance what facilities are available at the event.

Luxembourg's efforts to create a barrier-free environment have been praised at the European level. The capital in 2021 won the Access City Award 2022, the European Union's annual award for the most accessible cities. It demonstrated an integrated approach: integration and inclusion are declared cornerstones of city policy. According to the city authorities, the principle of "accessibility for all" is embedded in urban planning: the needs of people with disabilities are taken into account when designing new neighbourhoods, streets and parks, and existing infrastructure is actively modernised to remove long-standing barriers;

The municipality is consistently adapting old public spaces - from historic buildings to transport hubs - to bring them in line with the specific needs of different groups of citizens. This approach covers all aspects of urban life: pavements and road networks, public transport, service buildings and leisure facilities. The city does not limit itself to the requirements for new projects, but also adapts existing facilities - thereby increasing the comfort and independence of residents with disabilities.

Equally important is the development of accessible housing. New residential complexes are now planned with accessibility standards in mind: as we wrote above, each must have flats that are fully suitable for wheelchair users or can be easily converted to suit their needs. Social housing projects are being laid out with flats on lower floors with wide doors, spacious bathrooms (to allow wheelchair access) and reinforced structures to accommodate lifts or other devices. The government encourages the creation of inclusive housing communities - for example, supporting projects where both ordinary families and people with special needs live in the same complex, with the necessary support from personal assistants.

Transport and mobility for all

Luxembourg's public transport is considered one of the most affordable in Europe. In 2020, the country made bus, tram and train travel free for everyone, which in itself removed a financial barrier for many groups. But beyond that, the transport system has been technically equipped for the convenience of people with special needs in recent years. The main features of barrier-free transport are as follows:

In addition, measures for the convenience of all categories of passengers are being implemented everywhere: bus stops and stations are equipped with electronic information boards (in large fonts and contrast for the visually impaired) and voice announcements of transport arrivals are duplicated. Through a single website and the Mobiliteit.lu app, it is possible to plan a route with accessibility in mind - this service itself is designed in accordance with web accessibility standards and is convenient for users with visual and motor impairments. Transport employees are also trained: all drivers receive special training on serving passengers with disabilities and upgrade their qualifications annually.

Of course, not all people with disabilities can use even fully adapted public transport. For those who require personalised door-to-door transport, Luxembourg has a special service called Adapto. This service provides free transport on request for people with disabilities. To use Adapto, an Adapto card must be issued once (after confirming medical conditions), after which journeys throughout the country can be booked by phone or online. Specialised Adapto minibuses are equipped with wheelchair lifts and take passengers directly from their home to their desired address. From 2020, following the abolition of public transport charges, the eligibility criteria for Adapto became stricter (the service was left for those who really can't travel on regular routes), but it still serves thousands of people with mobility. Similarly, the Mobibus service - specially equipped buses running on a timetable - exists to transport children and adults with disabilities to school and work on a regular basis.

Additional solutions are also offered at the level of municipalities. For example, the capital city has a Call-a-Bus programme - a social taxi on call for residents over 70 years of age and people with disabilities living in the city. The service is available on weekdays from 8:00 to 18:00, the fare costs symbolically 6 euros, and a 45-minute phone order allows elderly and less mobile people to get from their homes to any place within the city. Initiatives like this complement national measures and ensure that no one is left without mobility.

Conveniences have also been created for disabled motorists. Luxembourg, as a member of the EU, recognises a unified parking "Blue Badge", which entitles to preferential parking throughout Europe. Holders of such a badge are provided with special conditions: in the city centre of Luxembourg about 300 parking spaces are reserved only for cars with the identification badge of disabled people. These spaces are marked with bright blue markings and a pictogram of a wheelchair, and are located near the entrances to public buildings, shopping centres, hospitals and so on. In addition, in Luxembourg, drivers with disabilities are allowed to park free of charge and without time limit in any municipal kerbside car parks - just place your Blue Badge on the windscreen. If a visitor comes from another EU country with his/her own parking ticket, he/she only needs to additionally put an explanation in French or German under the glass (a standardised form is available online).

The role of non-profit organisations and communities

Alongside public policy, non-profit organisations make a crucial contribution to creating an inclusive environment. In Luxembourg, there are many associations representing people with disabilities ranging from motor to sensory disabilities. They are coordinated by Info-Handicap, the national information and coordination centre for disability issues. This organisation was established in 1993 and brings together about 60 associations of people with disabilities and specialist services. Info-Handicap functions as a one-stop consultation centre: here families and people with special needs themselves can obtain information on rights, benefits, available services, technical means of rehabilitation, etc. The association is financed by the state (through the Ministry of Family and Integration) and actually serves as a bridge between citizens and state structures. The Info-Handicap office, which is located in the centre of the capital, has fully accessible reception conditions for visitors (there are ramps, a lift, tactile signs). Specialists provide counselling in four languages - Luxembourgish, French, German and English.

The activities of non-profit organisations are diverse and cover almost all spheres of life of disabled people. The main areas of support can be summarised as follows:

It is worth noting that the authorities co-operate closely with the non-profit sector. The Ministry of Family and Integration has a High Council for People with Disabilities, an advisory body, including representatives of associations of persons with disabilities. The Council participates in the development of new measures and monitors the implementation of the national inclusion plan. In the capital, the Municipality has a Service Intégration et Besoins Spécifiques (Service Intégration et Besoins Spécifiques) to which citizens can refer on all matters of accessibility and participation in the life of the city. Such structures demonstrate the intention to involve people with disabilities in decision-making, which is in line with the modern understanding of equal opportunities policy.

Luxembourg has done a lot of work to ensure physical accessibility, from updating laws to concrete improvements in cities and transport. Already today, people with disabilities have much more autonomy and convenience in their daily lives than they did a decade ago. For example, a person with a wheelchair can freely go about their business by bus or tram, visit most institutions, or spend time in a park or museum. However, the process of building an inclusive environment is still ongoing: some problem points remain, especially related to older facilities and neighbourhoods outside the capital;

In remote communities, there are still railway stations without lifts or shops without ramps, which limits the spontaneous movement of people with disabilities. Not all private establishments have had time to adapt to the new norms, and the challenge ahead is to modernise historic buildings without compromising their value. Nevertheless, the country was firmly committed to full inclusion. The concept of a "society without barriers" is a long-term goal, so that people with disabilities can live as autonomously as possible and participate in all areas of life on an equal basis with others. As part of this goal, the government regularly initiates new projects - for example, encouraging the installation of special adult changing tables in the public toilets of large centres so that people with severe disabilities and their carers feel comfortable outside the home.

Luxembourg also actively supports pan-European initiatives: for example, the government has approved the introduction of a European Disability Card and a single parking licence. These initiatives are designed to make it easier for people with disabilities to travel and take advantage of benefits across Europe - for example, a single card will allow access to discounts and services abroad in the same way as at home.