# CE2004078EN.01036101.xml

| 27.3.2004 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | CE 78/361 |
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27.3.2004

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

CE 78/361

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(2004/C 78 E/0380)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1143/03

by Christopher Huhne (ELDR) to the Commission

(1 April 2003)

Subject:   Accessibility of digital services for the visually impaired

Subject:

| 1. | What measures has the Commission taken to ensure accessibility of digital communication services to the blind and partially sighted? |
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1.

What measures has the Commission taken to ensure accessibility of digital communication services to the blind and partially sighted?

| 2. | Will the Commission ensure that legislation regarding the manufacturing of equipment to access digital services does not limit the inclusive design of such equipment for the needs of the visually impaired? |
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2.

Will the Commission ensure that legislation regarding the manufacturing of equipment to access digital services does not limit the inclusive design of such equipment for the needs of the visually impaired?

| 3. | Will the Commission also ensure that such legislation does not inhibit the ability of European manufacturers to market such products on the world market? |
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3.

Will the Commission also ensure that such legislation does not inhibit the ability of European manufacturers to market such products on the world market?

Answer given by Mr Liikanen on behalf of the Commission

(22 May 2003)

(22 May 2003)

| 1. | The Commission has taken action in this direction from many fronts.
  First within Union Research and Technology Development Programmes, several projects have been addressing the issue during the last years in order to contribute to the availability of technical solutions to provide access of digital communication and services to blind and partially sighted persons. Examples of those projects were dealing with access to electronic documents, web accessibility, access to mathematics in electronic form, access to music files, access to electronic school material for children and many more. More detailed information on these projects can be found in (http://www.cordis.lu/ist/kal/special_needs/).
  Second through the standardisation work. Detailed information is available at (http://www.eeurope-standards.org/activities_e-accessibility.htm). It should be noted that, in the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) area, the ICT Standards Board has set up the Design for All and Assistive Technologies Standardisation Co-ordination Group (DATSCG), to bring together the various bodies working on relevant standardisation activities in Europe, including CEN, Cenelec and ETSI (1), together with representatives of disabled groups and other groups that are active in ICT-related standardisation. In particular, DATSCG is promoting the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines, which aim at increasing accessibility of the web for people with disabilities. A resolution of the Parliament has recommended them for use by public web sites, Union's Institutions and Member States. More information on DATSCG is available at (http://www.ict.etsi.org/DATSCG/DATSCG_home.htm).
  Third, the Commission is consulting and inviting organisations of people with disabilities and in particular blind persons to participate in several working groups where new legislative measures are being developed or applied. This is the case of work in the area of accessibility of electronic Communication services, Digital Right Management, Digital Television ... that are dealt with the Inclusive Communications (INCOM) working group and reported to the Communications Committee (COCOM) of the Framework Directive 2002/21/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (2). |
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1.

The Commission has taken action in this direction from many fronts.

First within Union Research and Technology Development Programmes, several projects have been addressing the issue during the last years in order to contribute to the availability of technical solutions to provide access of digital communication and services to blind and partially sighted persons. Examples of those projects were dealing with access to electronic documents, web accessibility, access to mathematics in electronic form, access to music files, access to electronic school material for children and many more. More detailed information on these projects can be found in (http://www.cordis.lu/ist/kal/special_needs/).

Second through the standardisation work. Detailed information is available at (http://www.eeurope-standards.org/activities_e-accessibility.htm). It should be noted that, in the Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) area, the ICT Standards Board has set up the Design for All and Assistive Technologies Standardisation Co-ordination Group (DATSCG), to bring together the various bodies working on relevant standardisation activities in Europe, including CEN, Cenelec and ETSI (1), together with representatives of disabled groups and other groups that are active in ICT-related standardisation. In particular, DATSCG is promoting the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) guidelines, which aim at increasing accessibility of the web for people with disabilities. A resolution of the Parliament has recommended them for use by public web sites, Union's Institutions and Member States. More information on DATSCG is available at (http://www.ict.etsi.org/DATSCG/DATSCG_home.htm).

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Third, the Commission is consulting and inviting organisations of people with disabilities and in particular blind persons to participate in several working groups where new legislative measures are being developed or applied. This is the case of work in the area of accessibility of electronic Communication services, Digital Right Management, Digital Television ... that are dealt with the Inclusive Communications (INCOM) working group and reported to the Communications Committee (COCOM) of the Framework Directive 2002/21/EC of the Parliament and of the Council of 7 March 2002 on a common regulatory framework for electronic communications networks and services (2).

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| 2. | There is no intention from the Commission to develop legislation regarding manufacturing of equipment that could limit the inclusive design of such equipment. On the contrary the Commission is actively promoting the importance of inclusive design or design for all in the Information Society products and services. |
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2.

There is no intention from the Commission to develop legislation regarding manufacturing of equipment that could limit the inclusive design of such equipment. On the contrary the Commission is actively promoting the importance of inclusive design or design for all in the Information Society products and services.

| 3. | Specific legislation exists outside the Union that concerns the development of accessible products and services. In the United States there is legislation under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act that requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities following some specific standards. At this moment there is no such situation in Europe. However, there is already Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (3), dealing with equal access to employment that refers to the accessibility of ICT equipment in the workplace. The Directive applies the principle of reasonable accommodation. Also the Framework Directive refers to accessibility of products and services but does not dictate the way in which this would happen. Actions are planned to implement the goals of this Directive but there is no intention in any way to inhibit the European manufactures to market products in the world market. On the contrary it is recognised in the world market, in countries like United States, Canada, Australia that accessibility is a feature that adds value in the market. Furthermore, as mentioned before only accessible products can be sold to the United States administration and this is the largest purchaser of ICT products and services in the world. The Commission is firmly convinced that developing accessible products in Europe will enlarge their market possibilities. |
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3.

Specific legislation exists outside the Union that concerns the development of accessible products and services. In the United States there is legislation under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act that requires Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities following some specific standards. At this moment there is no such situation in Europe. However, there is already Council Directive 2000/78/EC of 27 November 2000 establishing a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation (3), dealing with equal access to employment that refers to the accessibility of ICT equipment in the workplace. The Directive applies the principle of reasonable accommodation. Also the Framework Directive refers to accessibility of products and services but does not dictate the way in which this would happen. Actions are planned to implement the goals of this Directive but there is no intention in any way to inhibit the European manufactures to market products in the world market. On the contrary it is recognised in the world market, in countries like United States, Canada, Australia that accessibility is a feature that adds value in the market. Furthermore, as mentioned before only accessible products can be sold to the United States administration and this is the largest purchaser of ICT products and services in the world. The Commission is firmly convinced that developing accessible products in Europe will enlarge their market possibilities.

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(1)  CEN: European Committee for Standardisation Cenelec: European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation ETSI: European Telecommunications Standards Institute.

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(2)  OJ L 108, 24.4.2002.

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(3)  OJ L 303, 2.12.2000.

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