European Accessibility Act: Q&A
What is the European Accessibility Act, who benefits from it and why do we need it?
The European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) is a landmark EU law which requires some everyday products and services to be accessible for persons with disabilities. It follows a commitment on accessibility made by the EU and all Member States upon ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The European Accessibility Act will make life easier for at least 87 million people – almost one in five Europeans – who have disabilities, including many older people, and for those who have a temporary impairment. The new rules will facilitate these people’s access to public transport, banking services, computers, TVs, e-books, online shops, and much more. For persons with disabilities, accessibility is a precondition for participation in society on equal basis with others.
Both companies and customers will benefit from the Act’s common accessibility requirements. On the one hand, companies (in particular SMEs) will find it easier to trade with other EU countries and gain certainty that they can sell their products and services throughout the EU. On the other hand, as the Act will drive [...]