Press Release: Digital Agenda: Commission proposes rules to make government websites accessible for all

Over 100 million EU citizens would find it easier to use online public services to look for a job, register a car, submit a tax declaration and apply for a passport or driving license thanks to new rules proposed today by the European Commission on the International Day of People with Disability.

The Commission's proposal for a Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites would introduce mandatory EU standardised accessibility features, from the end of 2015, for 12 types of websites. Mandatory accessibility would apply to essential government services like social security and health related services, job searches, university applications and issuing of personal documents and certificates (see annex for full list) The proposed new rules would also clarify what web accessibility means (technical specs, methodology for assessment, reporting, bottom up testing), and governments would be encouraged to apply the rules across all services, not only the mandatory list.

ESO: Background information: Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites http://www.europeansources.info/record/proposal-for-a-directive-of-the-european-parliament-and-of-the-council-on-the-accessibility-of-public-sector-bodies-websites/

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