There are until the European Disability Act comes into force.
The European accessibility act is a directive that aims to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services, by removing barriers created by divergent rules in Member States.
It was adopted by the European Parliament on 13 December 2016 and is expected to come into force on 28 June 2025.
The European Accessibility Act will be the first EU law to specifically address the rights of people with disabilities. It will ensure that people with disabilities are able to live independently and participate in the life of their communities. It will also ensure that people with disabilities have the same rights as everyone else.
Businesses will benefit from:
- common rules on accessibility in the EU leading to costs reduction
- easier cross-border trading
- more market opportunities for their accessible products and services
Persons with disabilities and elderly people will benefit from:
- more accessible products and services in the market
- accessible products and services at more competitive prices
- fewer barriers when accessing transport, education and the open labour market
- more jobs available where accessibility expertise is needed