EPA on the European Parking Card: Why digital interoperability matters

The introduction of the European Parking Card, along with a new European Disability Card, marks a significant milestone for accessibility and mobility across Europe¹. Designed to simplify cross-border travel for persons with disabilities, the new card aims to ensure that disabled parking rights are recognised consistently across EU Member States, reducing administrative barriers and supporting greater freedom of movement.

As the European Commission moves from legislation to implementation, however, attention is shifting from policy to practice. The current debate is no longer simply about improving the security of a physical parking card through technologies such as QR codes or RFID chips. Instead, it raises a much broader question: how should parking enforcement operate in an increasingly digital world?

The European Parking Association (EPA), which has been actively involved in the development of the new EPC since 2023, believes that while stronger security features for the physical card are welcome, they should not distract from the real challenge. Across Europe, parking enforcement is increasingly based on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras, scan cars and connected digital databases. Simply verifying that a physical card is present in the vehicle and genuine does not necessarily enable local parking authorities to confirm whether parking rights are valid in practice.

EPA therefore continues to advocate for a future-proof approach centred on digital interoperability. This includes integration with ANPR systems, interoperable national and European databases, secure mechanisms for cross-border vehicle registration information sharing, hybrid online and offline verification systems, and legislation that can evolve alongside new technologies.

Fortunately, this perspective is increasingly shared across the mobility sector. Organisations including POLIS and several regional and local public authorities have highlighted that Europe's parking systems are already becoming fully digital and that future EU legislation should reflect this operational reality. Together, these contributions point towards a common conclusion: improving digital interoperability will deliver greater long-term benefits than focusing solely on adding new “technological” features to a physical parking card.

At the same time, the ongoing discussions need to remain carefully balanced. Disability organisations rightly emphasise accessibility and privacy, while parking operators focus on effective enforcement and interoperability. The challenge for European policymakers is to ensure that future solutions achieve all of these objectives without creating unnecessary complexity or additional barriers for the actual users.

¹ See European Disability Card and European Parking Card for persons with disabilities - European Commission

To explore the topic in greater depth - including EPA's detailed recommendations, stakeholder perspectives from across Europe, and the future of digital parking enforcement - read the full article in Parking Trend International and sign up to receive future editions directly to your mailbox.

Source: This article is a shortened version of a feature originally published Parking Trend International (PTI), the official magazine of ERTICO Partner, the European Parking Association (EPA), Issue 2-2026.

Image: Published by EPA in Parking Trend International No. 2–2026