On 13 March Parliament approved the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The new rules are a step towards a fairer and more inclusive Europe and will improve the daily lives of the elderly and people with disabilities across the EU.

The final text will still need to be approved by the Council before it can enter into force. Once the legislation has been published in the EU's official journal, member States will have three years to transpose the new provisions into national law and six years to apply them.

More accessible products and services

More than 80 million people live with disabilities in the EU and many have difficulties using everyday products, such as smartphones, computers, e-books, and encounter problems in accessing key services via ticket machines or ATMs.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) requires the EU and member states to ensure accessibility. Measures at EU level are needed to set common accessibility requirements for key products and services.