Editing Web accessibility (section)

===European Union===
In February 2014 a draft law was endorsed by the [[European Parliament]] stating that all websites managed by public sector bodies have to be made accessible to everyone.<ref>{{cite web|title=MEPs vote to make online public services accessible to everyone|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140220IPR36573/html/MEPs-vote-to-make-online-public-services-accessible-to-everyone |publisher=European Parliament|access-date=28 February 2017|date=26 February 2014|archive-date=24 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924195259/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140220IPR36573/html/MEPs-vote-to-make-online-public-services-accessible-to-everyone|url-status=live}}</ref>

A [[European Commission]] ''Communication'' on eAccessibility was published on 13 September 2005.<ref name=sec1095 /> The commission's aim to "harmonise and facilitate the [[Government procurement|public procurement]] of accessible ICT products and services" was embedded in a mandate issued to CEN, CENELEC and ETSI in December 2005, reference M 376.<ref>Level Access, [https://www.levelaccess.com/accessibility-regulations/m376/ European Union's Mandate M 376] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120080336/https://www.levelaccess.com/accessibility-regulations/m376/ |date=20 November 2021 }}, accessed 20 November 2021</ref> A mandate is a request for the drafting and adoption of a European standard or European standardisation deliverables issued to one or more of the European standardisation organisations. Mandates are usually accepted by the standardisation organisation because they are based on preliminary consultation, although technically the organisation is independent and has a right to decline the mandate.<ref>European Commission, [https://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/european-standards/standardisation-requests-mandates_en Standardisation requests - mandates] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211120080344/https://ec.europa.eu/growth/single-market/european-standards/standardisation-requests-mandates_en |date=20 November 2021 }}, accessed 20 November 2021</ref> The mandate also called for the development of an electronic toolkit for public procurers enabling them to have access to the resulting harmonised requirements.<ref name=mandate376>European Commission, [https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/mandates/index.cfm?fuseaction=select_attachments.download&doc_id=425 Standardisation Mandate to CEN, CENELEC AND ETSI in support of European Accessibility Requirements for Public Procurement of Products and Services in the ICT Domain] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211222221023/https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/mandates/index.cfm?fuseaction=select_attachments.download&doc_id=425 |date=22 December 2021 }}, M 376 - EN, published 7 December 2005, accessed 20 November 2021</ref> The commission also noted that the harmonised outcome, while intended for public procurement purposes, might also be useful for [[procurement]] in the private sector.<ref name=mandate376 />{{rp|Section 2.3}}

On 26 October 2016, the European Parliament approved the [[Web Accessibility Directive]], which requires that the websites and mobile apps of public sector bodies be accessible. The relevant accessibility requirements are described in the European standard [[EN 301 549]] V3.2.1 (published by [[ETSI]]). EU member states were expected to bring into force by 23 September 2018 laws and regulations that enforce the relevant accessibility requirements.

* websites of public sector bodies should comply by 23 September 2018; 
* mobile apps by 23 June 2021.

Some categories of websites and apps are excepted from the directive, for example "websites and mobile applications of public service broadcasters and their subsidiaries".<ref>[http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32016L2102 Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329051132/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32016L2102 |date=29 March 2017 }}, EUR-Lex; published in the 'Official Journal of the European Union' on 2 December 2016, accessed 28 March 2017</ref>

The European Commission's "Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation 2017" notes that ETSI standard EN 301 549 V1.1.2 will need to be updated to add accessibility requirements for mobile applications and evaluation methodologies to test compliance with the standard.<ref>European Commission: Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs: [http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/image/document/2017-13/grow_rolling_plan_ict_2017_web_170302_C7EC62EB-0196-6C12-45229D71D00B0D6B_43894.pdf Rolling Plan for ICT Standardisation 2017. COM (2016) 176 final.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329051223/http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/image/document/2017-13/grow_rolling_plan_ict_2017_web_170302_C7EC62EB-0196-6C12-45229D71D00B0D6B_43894.pdf |date=29 March 2017 }}. Accessed 28 March 2017.</ref>

In 2019 the European Union introduced the [[European Accessibility Act]], as one of the leading pieces of legislation for [[digital accessibility]] and [[digital inclusion]]. The European Accessibility Act (EAA), which [https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1202&intPageId=5581&langId=en#:~:text=All%20EU%20Member%20States%20must,by%20the%20Act%20are%20accessible. will enter into force on 28 June 2025], requiring companies to ensure that the newly marketed products and services covered by the Act are accessible. All websites will need to adhere to the WCAG Principles of Perceivable, Operable, Understandable and Robust, and deliver comparative levels of user experience to disabled customers. As of June 28, 2025, customers will be able to file complaints before national courts or authorities if services or products do not respect the new rules.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion |url=https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1202&intPageId=5581&langId=en |access-date=June 27, 2024 |website=European Commission}}</ref>