Electronic accessibility (eAccessibility) refers to the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) by persons with disabilities.
CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI developed EN 301549, the first European Standard for accessible ICT products and services, in response to European Commission Mandate M/376. This standard ensures that publicly procured ICT systems do not introduce accessibility barriers.
The CEN-CENELEC and ETSI Joint Working Group (JWG) ‘eAccessibility’ managed this initiative. The project was funded by the European Commission (EC) and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).
The latest revision, EN 301549:2021, is available through ETSI and National Standardization Bodies. It was developed inclusively, involving relevant stakeholders, and is aligned with global accessibility requirements through collaboration with the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
Under Mandate M/587, the JWG 'eAccessibility' is revising EN 301549 and developing new standards to support the EAA.
Supporting Technical Reports
EN 301549:2021 is supplemented by three Technical Reports:
These documents, currently under review by the JWG ‘eAccessibility’ provide detailed accessibility requirements applicable to a wide range of ICT-related products and services, including computers, smartphones, digital devices, ticketing machines, websites, and email services.
Alignment with Global Standards
Through a formal agreement between the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI, the accessibility requirements outlined in these standards align with global accessibility regulations, ensuring consistency in international best practices.
Future Developments and the European Accessibility Act
Learn more about how to contribute to EU standardization on accessibility by watching this video.
