Accessible websites and apps for all: Council adopts first-ever EU-wide rules

	80 million Europeans with disabilities need better access to websites and mobile applications. To make it happen, on 18 July 2016 the Council formally approved the public sector web accessibility directive agreed with the European Parliament in May. As the EU population ages, the number of people with a disability or age-related limitation is expected to increase to 120 million by 2020. By making digital products and services accessible to all users, the directive plays a crucial role in ensuring that all of us can fully participate in the digital society and economy. This directive will greatly simplify the accessibility and use of services by disadvantaged people. “We consider as essential the establishment of technical standards, the monitoring mechanism and the subsequent conformity check. I would like to congratulate the Dutch presidency for bringing this important initiative to a successful close,” said Slovak Deputy Prime Minister for Investments and the Information Society Peter Pellegrini.