Brussels, 13/12/2011 (Agence Europe) - How can the barriers facing Europeans with disabilities be removed? It was in answer to that question that the European Commission launched a public consultation exercise on Tuesday 13 December. On the basis of that consultation, it will be able to establish its future initiatives. The Commission plans to present a proposal for a European Accessibility Act for autumn 2012. “Accessibility is about breaking down barriers to disabled people in buildings, transport and online”, explained Viviane Reding, Justice Commissioner. The consultation will be open until 29 February 2012.
Last year, the European Commission adopted a comprehensive strategy to create a barrier-free Europe for disabled people by 2020. The plan outlines how the EU and national governments can empower people with disabilities so they can enjoy their rights. One of the key actions included was an accessibility initiative. The aim is to use standardisation or public procurement rules to make all goods and services accessible to people with disabilities while fostering an EU market for assistive devices. This market is expected to grow considerably in the coming years, following the experience in the United States, the Commission points out.
Viviane Reding stresses that “making goods and services more accessible is also about creating market opportunities and can be a stimulus for innovation and growth”.
In a press release, the Commission points out that a study by the UK's Royal National Institute of the Blind showed that a £35,000 investment by a supermarket chain in making their website accessible brought in additional revenue of over £13 million a year. In Germany, a study found that more accessible facilities would increase travel by persons with disabilities, yielding between €620 million and €1.9 billion in additional turnover for the German tourism industry. (OL/transl.jl)