02/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 2 July 2008, the European Commission launched a public consultation exercise on possible measures for making the internet more user-friendly for the elderly and disabled, particularly the websites of public authorities. 15% of Europeans suffer from a handicap, mainly due to old age, and many of them find it a struggle to read small font on a website or even get access to the internet in the first place. Despite encouragement from the European Union and member states, little progress has been made in making the internet more user-friendly. In 2006, member states pledged to reduce the number of groups threatened with exclusion from use of the internet by half as part of an eAccessibility programme. The consultation will draw to a close on 27 August 2008 and will also cover other technology, like digital television. The consultation document can be found at http: //ec.europa.eu/einclusion. (I.L.)