1a. The Commission shall, in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012, request one or more European standardisation organisations to draft harmonised standards for each of the accessibility requirements of products set out in Article 3. The Commission shall adopt those requests by ... [two years after the date of entry into force of this Directive]. 1b. The Commission may adopt implementing acts establishing technical specifications that meet the accessibility requirements set out in Article 3. However, it shall only do so if the following conditions are met: (a) no reference to harmonised standards has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012; (b) the Commission has adopted a request referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article; and 1a. The Commission shall, in accordance with Article 10 of Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012, request one or more European standardisation organisations to draft harmonised standards for each of the accessibility requirements of products set out in Article 3. Standardisation bodies shall systematically consult disabled persons and their representative organizations, in each stage of the standardization process, while drafting harmonized standards to accomplish and specify the accessibility requirements of this directive. 1b. The Commission may adopt implementing acts establishing technical specifications that meet the accessibility requirements set out in Article 3. However, it shall only do so if the following conditions are met: (a) no reference to harmonised standards has been published in the Official Journal of the European Union in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 1025/2012; (b) the Commission has adopted a request referred to in paragraph 2 of this Article; and
representative organisations, so that information on products can be disseminated across the Union. Justification: This amendment increases transparency and may prevent the inadvertent purchase of an inaccessible product. Thus, EBU supports the amendment. Art. 18 - Compliance of Services Parliament: Amendment 141 Council: Article 18 - paragraph 2 Parliament EBU Member States shall ensure that the public is informed of the existence, responsibilities and identity of the authorities referred to in the first subparagraph. Those authorities shall make available the information on their own work and on the decisions they have taken in accessible formats upon request from the members of the public concerned. Member States shall ensure that the public is informed of the existence, responsibilities and identity of the authorities referred to in the first subparagraph. Those authorities shall make available the information on their own work, on complaint and enforcement procedures and on the decisions they have taken in accessible formats. Member states shall ensure that the concerned authorities are staffed with experts on accessibility and disabled persons to guarantee a fair monitoring and implementation, which reflects the perspective of this directive. Council EBU 2. Member States shall designate the compliance of services Member States ensure that the public is informed of the
authorities and the relevant stakeholders, including persons with disabilities and their representative organisations. 2. The working group shall perform the following tasks: (a) facilitating the exchange of information and best practices among the market surveillance authorities; (b) ensuring coherence in the application of the accessibility requirements set out in Article 3; (c) expressing an opinion on exceptions from the accessibility requirements set out in Article 3 in cases that are considered to be necessary, after receiving the Commission request. Justification: EBU appreciates the consistent approach of the Parliament to involve disability related stakeholders in crucial processes like review, monitoring and the development of appropriate guidelines. Art. 21 – Applicability of Accessibility Requirements to other Union Acts Article 21 Council: Article 21 Council EBU deleted The Accessibility requirements set out in Section IX of I shall apply:
with this Directive. They shall immediately communicate the text of those measures to the Commission […]. Justification: According to the Council position, the transposition of the Directive will only have to be finalized three years after adoptions, instead of the two years proposed by the Commission. EBU is not in favour of prolonging the transposition as products and services should be made accessible as a matter of priority, as quickly as possible. Article 27, Paragraph 2 Parliament: Amendment 169 Parliament EBU 2. They shall apply those provisions from ... [five years after the entry into force of this Directive]. Support Justification: EBU welcomes the shortening of the transitional period to five years from the six years proposed by Commission and Council. However, EBU believes that different transitional periods depending on the life cycle of the products/services within the scope of the directive could be established. Article 27, Paragraph 2(a-b) (new) Parliament: Amendment 170 and amendment 171 Parliament EBU 2a. Without prejudice to paragraph 2b of this Article, Member States shall provide for a transitional period of five years after ... [six years after the date of entry into force of this Rejection