EU launches consultation on e-accessibility
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on how best to make information and communication technologies (ICT) available to all, including the disabled and the elderly. The consultation, unveiled on 10 January, suggests introducing new legislation to remove the technical challenges and difficulties faced by some EU citizens when trying to use electronic products or services such as computers, mobile phones or the Internet. 'Information and communication technologies can be powerful tools for bringing people together, improving their health and welfare, and making their jobs and social lives richer and more rewarding,' explained Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding. 'But over 90 million EU citizens either cannot reap these benefits in full, or are effectively cut off from them because of age or disabilities.' 'Making ICT products and services more accessible is thus a social, ethical and political imperative,' added Ms Reding. 'At the same time, it makes sense economically. About 48 per cent of people over 50 years old in Europe today say ICTs do not fully meet their needs, but many of them also say that they would buy new mobile phones, computer and Internet services if they could use them.' The public consultation focuses on three areas identified by the Commission as key to promoting what it defines as 'e-accessibility': public procurement, certification, and the use of legislation. According to the consultation document, EU Member State public authorities should aim to develop common requirements to ease the purchasing of user-friendly goods and services. This in turn would create larger markets for 'design-for-all' products. A second suggestion is to assess whether a certification mechanism should provide a quality label for accessible products and services. 'A certification mechanism for accessible products and services should be set up, providing guidance to customers and recognition to manufacturers and service providers. Guidelines should be developed to assess the accessibility consequences of information society policies in order to avoid creating new barriers and to improve inclusion,' states the consultation document. On the matter of legislative measures, the document notes that e-accessibility-related laws already exist in several Member States, and that there are indications that harmonising, on an EU level, the relevant technical requirements 'would help make these laws a more powerful driver for change, while promoting interoperability and the harmonisation of the market.' The consultation document then goes on to consider a number of support actions, such as the development of e-skills; the further deployment of ICT research and development (R&D) to promote e-accessibility; the monitoring of web accessibility; benchmarking; the development of digital TV; raising awareness on the issue of accessibility and the needs of people with disabilities, and encouraging standardisation for a truly European market. The consultation document is available online, and interested parties have until 12 February 2005 to comment on these proposals. Responses are given anonymously. The results of the consultation and the various inputs will feed into a Commission communication on e-accessibility, to be adopted by June 2005.