European Parliament Alerts from the Internal Market and Consumer Protection committee

Subject files - Accessibility of public sector bodies' websites - Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection 11-04-2018 05:06 PM CEST On 03.05.2016, IMCO negotiators reached an informal deal with Council on the first EU-wide rules to make public sector bodies' websites and mobile applications accessible for people with disabilities. Over 167 million EU citizens who have a disability (medical or due to age) are prevented from accessing data/services on the Internet. Many websites lack adequately adapted content for the blind, the deaf and the hard of hearing as well as for those with low vision and with functional disabilities. The Directive will set out minimum conditions for accessibility and it requires regular monitoring and reporting of the sites and apps' accessibility by Member States. Thanks to the EP's efforts, the deal also covers mobile applications and the scope is extended to cover all public sector bodies. They have to prepare an "accessibility statement" on their compliance with the directive, explaining which parts of their website or app are not accessible. The Directive also enables individuals to request specific information "on-demand" if the content is inaccessible. Furthermore, users can notify any failures to comply with the requirements of the Directive via a feedback mechanism. MS will have to designate an authority tasked with monitoring and enforcing these rules. Rapporteur: D. Charanzova (ALDE) Shadows: S. Verheyen (EPP), J. Weidenholzer (S&D), J.Reda (Greens/EFA), A. Van Bossuyt (ECR). Source : © European Union, 2018 - EP QUESTIONS? STAY CONNECTED  Contact Us |   This email was sent on behalf of the European Parliament · Bât. Altiero Spinelli · 60 rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60 · B-1047 - Bruxelles/Brussels  · Belgium · Phone: +32(0)2 28 42111