Promoting accessibility is a key issue for achieving the four objectives of the Lisbon European Council strategy: increasing competitiveness, achieving full employment, strengthening social cohesion and promoting sustainable development.

As stated in the European Commission Report "2010: A Europe Accessible to All’ (February 2004), accessibility must be considered in a comprehensive and integrated way in all policy areas and must be achieved in coordination with all actors involved (social policy, urban and territorial planning, information and communication technologies, construction, transport and others).

The World Health Organisation’s World Disability Report (WHO and World Bank, 2011) refers to the importance of transport services in the lives of people with disabilities “(...) transport provides independent access to employment, education, health, social and recreational activities (...)”.

Ensuring an accessible transport system is a prerequisite for social inclusion and the exercise of citizenship rights by citizens with disabilities and with restricted mobility.