Common European accessibility standards help remove barriers for people with disabilities and others (e.g. the older people).
For example, if buildings and streets are not accessible, persons with disabilities are not able to go around like other people. If information on a website is not accessible, persons with disabilities are not able to shop online like other people.
Hence, European accessibility standards have been put in place to support implementation of accessibility in the built environment and ICT and for organisations to adopt a ‘Design for All’ approach.
When applied across Member States, these standards also improve the functioning of the internal market, by removing barriers to free movement of goods and services.
Actions
The Commission has instructed European standards organisations, which include CEN, CENELEC and ETSI, to develop and implement accessibility standards. These include standards for
- Mandate 376 ICT accessibility resulting in European Standard EN 301 549
- accessibility to the built environment, leading to European Standard EN 17210, which is currently in the process of consultation
- Mandate 473 accessibility following “Design for all” standards, resulting in European Standard EN 17161
- Mandate 420 accessibility of websites and mobile applications, updating European Standard EN 301 549
Key EU legislative instruments (the directive on web accessibility, the European accessibility act, the public procurement directives) refer to the possible use of accessibility standards. The Commission encourages the participation of all relevant stakeholders in these processes, including persons with disabilities.
The EU also works together with other key players in the field of accessibility standardisation to support accessibility at the international level.
Background
Accessibility to the built environment, Information and Communication (notably ICT), and transport is required by article 9 of the UN convention on persons with disabilities.
The European disability strategy 2010-2020 and the digital single market strategy contain actions to foster accessibility standardisation. The development of specific accessibility standards is included in the European Commission standardisation plan and the annual rolling ICT standardisation plan.