EU actions on Web- Accessibility Funka Accessibility Days 10.04.2013.

EU actions on Web-Accessibility

Funka Accessibility Days 10.04.2013

Different types of actions

1. Policy initiatives2. Standardisation activities3. Projects4. Studies

1. Policy Initiatives

• Encouragements and commitments from 2000 till now:European Commissiono eEurope Action Plan (2000) and Communication on eEurope 2002:

Accessibility of Public Web Sites and their Content (2001)

o Communications on eAccessibility (2005) and Towards and accessible information society (2008)

o Proposal for an Equal Treatment Directive (2008)

European Parliamento Resolution on the Commission Communication on eEurope 2002

1. Policy Initiatives

• Encouragements and Commitments from 2000 till now:

Council o Resolutions on eEurope Action Plan (2002)

o Riga Ministerial Declaration (2006)

o Conclusions on the Commission Communication on the accessible information society (2009)

1. Policy Initiatives

• Despite all these efforts, and…

o National measures

21 Member States committed to Web Accessibility through legislative and non-legislative measures

o International measures

United Nations Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) signed by all MS and ratified by most – ACTUAL COMMITMENT

1. Policy Initiatives

• …WA situation in EU today

o Low accessibility of public sector websites throughout EU

less than 40% of the public sector websites accessible

o Wide variety of diverging and uncoordinated efforts at EU level

leading to varying national specifications

1. Policy Initiatives

• So what now?

o From "soft EU law" and national initiatives to "harder law" at EU level

o Current and upcoming complementary policy actions:

1. Proposal for new Public Procurement Directive

2. Proposal for a Directive on the accessibility of public sector bodies´ websites (Web-Accessibility Directive)

3. European Accessibility Act

1. Policy Initiatives

1. Proposal for new Public Procurement Directive

o Establishes obligation to take into account accessibility in technical specifications of public contracts

"For all procurement the subject of which is intended for use by persons [...] those technical specifications shall, except in duly justified cases, be drawn up so as to take into account accessibility criteria for people with disabilities or design for all users."

o In opposition to encouragement of the existing version (2004)

"Whenever possible, technical specifications should be defined as to take into account accessibility criteria for people with disabilities or design for all users“

1. Policy Initiatives

1. Proposal for new Public Procurement Directive

o Sets preference of European standards over International ones for technical specifications

o Potential resulting scenario:

Obligation to take into account accessibility + Preference of European standards + Upcoming EU standard on web-accessibility (EN 301549) =

PROCURED WEBSITES ACCESSIBLE ACCORDING TO WCAG 2.0

o Proposal is currently under discussion

1. Policy Initiatives

2. Proposal for Web-Accessibility Directive

o Problem:

Non-functioning of the internal market for provision of web-accessibility;

o Drivers:

Fragmentation due to different national web accessibility (WA) specs

Uncertainty for the procurers / owners

1. Policy Initiatives

2. Proposal for Web-Accessibility Directive

o Consequences of the problemCitizens: Low accessibility of public sector websites Social exclusion

Web- Developers: Difficulties for SMEs to operate cross-borders Limited interoperability of assistive technologies

Member States – Owners of websites: Costs for alternative service provision and higher cost/website Criticism on social and public responsibility

1. Policy Initiatives

2. Proposal for Web-Accessibility Directive

o The proposal establishes harmonised accessibility requirements for a set of public sector bodies´ websites

Requirementso In line with Principles of WCAG 2.0:Websites to be accessible in “an adequate way for user´s perception, operation and

understanding” and “in a way which facilitates interoperability with a variety of user agents and assistive technologies at Union and international level”

Scope o Public sector: Websites owned by public sector bodieso Websites offering 12 types of essential services for citizens

1. Policy Initiatives

2. Proposal for Web-Accessibility Directive

Use of standardso Presumption of conformity with requirements for websites which meet

future European harmonised standardo Harmonised standard to point to WCAG 2.0 AAo Indirect referencing to harmonised standard: Possible to update the content

of the standard (i. e. WCAG 3.0) without changing the legislation

Monitoring and reportingo Compulsory monitoring of the compliance and reporting to the Commissiono Monitoring methodology to be decided together by MS and the EC

1. Policy Initiatives

2. Proposal for Web-Accessibility Directive

Additional measureso Encouragement to extend the scope of the implementation to public

sector websites => Fostering spill-over effect to national legislation

o MS to support mechanisms of consultations and cooperate with industry and civil society

Timelineo Fixed deadlines for transposition and implementation (end 2015)

1. Policy Initiatives

2. Proposal for Web-Accessibility Directive

o Opportunities to be created

For citizens: Improved access to essential 'basic public services‘

For industry: Easier and cheaper to operate EU-wide Better growth conditions for SME´s (clear and consistent use of technical criteria).

For public administrations

Efficiency/effectiveness, reduced need for helpdesk support (20% ); Fulfil social responsibility and commitments

1. Policy Initiatives

3. European Accessibility Act

o Expected to cover web-accessibility, in particular private sector

o Complementary to and not in conflict with the Web-Accessibility Directive

o Currently under preparation by DG JUST

2. Standardisation activities

• Mandate 376o Mandate by the EC to the European Standardisation Bodies to deliver a

European standard on accessibility requirements of public procurement of ICT products and services

o Final draft of the standard (EN 301549) is currently under public enquiryo Web-content requirements: Success Criteria and Conformance

Requirements of WCAG 2.0 in ISO/IEC 40500:2012 o It also includes some basic elements for verification of compliance

o Estimated date for publication: February 2014o Mandate 376 states that the resulting standard may be used for other

cases than public procurement (i.e. WA Directive)

3. Projects

• Funding to different Research and Development projects:o eAccess+: Establishing a cooperative platform for co-ordinating, supporting

and improving the implementation of eAccessibility throughout Europeo WAI-ACT: Collaborative environment to result in

o Expanded European and international cooperation on the development of accessibility solutions for people with disabilities;

o Consensus-based, authoritative technical guidance to accelerate implementation of advanced technologies;

o Internationally harmonised evaluation methodologies; o A coordinated research agenda on eAccessibility

4. Studies

• Funding for many studies, consultations and surveys on Web-Accessibility in Europe:

o Measuring Progress of eAccessibility in Europe (MeaC I)o Economic Assessment for Improving e-Accessibility Services and Productso Monitoring eAccessibility (MeaC II)o Web-accessibility in European countries: level of compliance with latest

international accessibility specifications, notably WCAG 2.0, and approaches or plans to implement those specifications

o Monitoring eAccessibility in Europe (Meac III): Currently under preparation and expected to be published in the upcoming months

Thank you!