Directive 2016/2102 - Accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies - Main contents
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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 (Text with EEA relevance )| Legal instrument | Directive |
|---|---|
| Number legal act | Directive 2016/2102 |
| Original proposal | COM(2012)721  |
| CELEX number i | 32016L2102 |
| Document | 26-10-2016; Date of signature |
|---|---|
| Publication in Official Journal | 02-12-2016; OJ L 327 p. 1-15 |
| Signature | 26-10-2016 |
| Effect | 22-12-2016; Entry into force Date pub. +20 See Art 14 |
| Deadline | 23-09-2018; See Art 8.7 And 9.2 23-12-2018; See Art 6.2 And 7.2. And 8.2 23-12-2021; See Art 8.4 23-06-2022; Review See Art 13 |
| End of validity | 31-12-9999 |
| Transposition | 23-09-2018; Adoption See Art 12.1 23-09-2019; Application See Art 12.3(a) 23-09-2020; Application See Art 12.3(b) 23-06-2021; Application See Art 12.3(c) |
2.12.2016 |
EN |
Official Journal of the European Union |
L 327/1 |
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
(Text with EEA relevance)
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 114(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission,
After transmission of the draft legislative act to the national parliaments,
Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (1),
After consulting the Committee of the Regions,
Acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure (2),
Whereas:
(1) |
The trend towards a digital society provides users with new ways of accessing information and services. The providers of information and services, such as public sector bodies, rely increasingly on the internet in order to produce, collect and provide a wide range of information and services online which are essential to the public. |
(2) |
In the context of this Directive, accessibility should be understood as principles and techniques to be observed when designing, constructing, maintaining, and updating websites and mobile applications in order to make them more accessible to users, in particular persons with disabilities. |
(3) |
The fast-growing market for making digital products and services more accessible comprises a range of economic operators, such as those developing websites or software tools to create, manage and test web pages or mobile applications, those developing user agents such as web browsers and related assistive technologies, those implementing certification services and those providing training. |
(4) |
As underlined in the Commission communication of 19 May 2010 entitled ‘A Digital Agenda for Europe’, public authorities should play their part in promoting markets for online content. Governments can stimulate content markets by making public sector information available under transparent, effective and non-discriminatory terms. This is an important source of potential growth of innovative online services. |
(5) |
Several Member States have adopted measures based on internationally used guidelines for the design of accessible websites, but those measures often relate to different versions or compliance levels of those guidelines, or have introduced technical differences in respect of accessible websites at national level. |
(6) |
Suppliers of accessible websites, mobile applications and related software and technologies include a large number of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Such suppliers, and SMEs in particular, are discouraged from entering into business ventures outside their national markets. Due to the differences between Member States in accessibility specifications and regulations, suppliers' competitiveness and growth are hampered by the additional costs they would incur in the development and marketing of cross-border web accessibility-related products and services. |
(7) |
Due to limited competition, buyers of websites, mobile applications and related products and services are faced with high prices in respect of the provision of services or dependence on a single supplier. Suppliers often favour variations of proprietary ‘standards’, hindering subsequent scope for interoperability of user agents and Union-wide ubiquitous access to the content of websites and mobile applications. Fragmentation among national regulations reduces the benefits that could result from sharing experiences with national and international peers in responding to societal and technological developments. |
(8) |
In a harmonised... |
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