A more accessible and inclusive European Union for all people

The European Accessibility Act came into force in the EU on the 28th. From that day on, key products and services – such as telephones, computers, e-books, banking services and electronic communications – must be accessible to people with disabilities.

The European Accessibility Act is a step forward in reducing the barriers that people with disabilities face every day. It facilitates the full participation of people with disabilities in society, for example by making IT equipment accessible and facilitating assistive technologies in the workplace. It will also contribute to greater mobility, as the level of accessibility will be similar across the EU.

The Act establishes common accessibility requirements across the EU for certain products and services, from appropriate font size to text-to-speech functions in self-service payment terminals, e-readers and smartphones, among others. This will simplify rules for economic operators, who have so far faced divergent and often contradictory accessibility requirements from one country to another. The Commission is supporting Member States through regular meetings with the National Contact Points, in particular to address country-specific issues.

Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, said: “Around 100 million people in the EU live with disabilities. Accessibility is a precondition for participation in society. The European Accessibility Act is a measure of equality and fairness, but also of growth and innovation. It is a further step towards enabling people with disabilities across the EU to enjoy their lives in the same way as people without disabilities. We welcome this achievement, and now we need to put it into practice and implement it, making sure that these new rules bring about real and lasting change for all”.

More information: European Commission.