| Author (Corporate) | European Commission |
|---|---|
| Series Title | COM |
| Series Details | (2012) 721 final (3.12.12) |
| Publication Date | 03/12/2012 |
| Content Type | Policy-making |
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Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), including the internet, are major drivers of economy and society. The internet economy, for example, is today larger than that of energy or agriculture. As part of the internet domain, web-accessibility is a major contributor to the development of a knowledge-based society, to economic growth, and societal inclusion. Web-accessibility refers to principles and techniques that, when considered in the making of a website, render its content accessible to all users, in particular those with disabilities including functional ones. The market for web-accessibility related products and services is still immature but growing. Member States are well engaged in web-accessibility and governments could make a considerable contribution to this growth and to mainstreaming web-accessibility. However, a harmonisation of national measures at EU level has been identified as necessary to unlock the unrealised potential of the internal market of web-accessibility products and services. It would encourage economic operators (web-developers), in particular SMEs, to consider business ventures outside their own domestic markets, and help them to elaborate more competitive service offers, as well as to concentrate resources on innovation rather than adaptation to national measures. The resulting momentum in the market will allow both website owners and web-developers to contribute to economic growth and job creation in the EU. Governments and other institutions will benefit from more and better offers while contracting web-accessibility related services. Strengthening the single market will increase the interest for investments in the EU. Ultimately all citizens, in particular those with disabilities, will benefit from better access to a wider range of online services and from exercising their rights to receive services across the EU, notably when exercising their rights to move and reside freely within Europe. |
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| Source Link | http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=COM:2012:0721:FIN:EN:PDF |
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| Subject Categories | Business and Industry |
| Countries / Regions | Europe |
