This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Accessibility of public sector websites and mobile apps
Accessibility of public sector websites and mobile apps
Accessibility of public sector websites and mobile apps
EU Member States must ensure that websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies are ‘more accessible’, particularly for people with disabilities, by making them ‘perceivable, operable, understandable and robust’. The accessibility standard is set out in the harmonised European standard EN 301 549 v3.2.1 (2021-03). The parts of this standard that are relevant to this directive are listed in Annex A of the standard.
Public sector bodies must regularly provide a detailed, comprehensive and clear accessibility statement on how their websites and mobile applications comply with this directive, including:
Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523, an implementing act adopted by the European Commission, establishes a model accessibility statement.
Member States must also:
Member States may maintain or enact legislation which goes beyond the minimum requirements of this directive.
Exclusions
This directive does not apply to public service broadcasters or non-governmental organisations that do not provide services that are essential to the public or specifically to people with disabilities. In addition, it does not apply to the following content elements:
Member States may exclude the websites and mobile applications of schools, kindergartens or nurseries, except for content relating to essential online administrative functions.
Monitoring
Member States must monitor compliance using the methodology adopted by the Commission on 11 October 2018. The methodology, established by Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1524, includes:
Reporting
By 23 December 2021, and every 3 years after that, Member States will publish and submit to the Commission a report that presents the results of monitoring and information on the use of the enforcement procedure. The first report will also cover:
The content of all the reports will be made public in an accessible format. The application of the directive will be reviewed by the Commission before 23 June 2022.
It has applied since 22 December 2016 and had to become law in the Member States by 23 September 2018. Member States had to apply these measures as follows:
For further information, see:
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 (OJ L 327, 2.12.2016, pp. 1–15).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1339 of 11 August 2021 amending Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/2048 as regards the harmonised standard for websites and mobile applications (OJ L 289, 12.8.2021, pp. 53–55).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/2048 of 20 December 2018 on the harmonised standard for websites and mobile applications drafted in support of Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 327, 21.12.2018, pp. 84–86).
Successive amendments to Decision (EU) 2018/2048 have been incorporated in the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1523 of 11 October 2018 establishing a model accessibility statement in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies (OJ L 256, 12.10.2018, pp. 103–107).
Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2018/1524 of 11 October 2018 establishing a monitoring methodology and the arrangements for reporting by Member States in accordance with Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies (OJ L 256, 12.10.2018, pp. 108–116).
See consolidated version.
last update 27.10.2021