News/Press

During the first high-level Ministerial debate on e-Inclusion held in Lisbon on 2-3 December, European Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding calls on the Member States to take rapid action.

Brussels, 3 December 2007 – “e-Inclusion is a basic value of European society and a huge economic opportunity for Europe” said yesterday European Commissioner Reding at the Ministerial Debate on European e-Inclusion Policy. Addressing the 27 EU Ministers, Reding underlined the need for further e-Accessibility legislation: “There has hardly been any progress in the areas covered by the Riga Declaration adopted last year. I call on each one of you to take action. Information and Communication technologies must bring real power, opportunity and choice for all consumers. A legislative approach will both promote the rights of disabled users, while consolidating the internal market”.

For the European Disability Forum (EDF), representing the interests of the users at the Ministerial debate, the European Commission’s proposal for new legislation and strategic framework of action is an important step forward.

“It is not about wishes, it is about rights” declared Rodolfo Cattani, EDF Executive Committee Member. “This has been the message expressed by 10% of the population through the 1million4disability campaign and they want now to see their rights respected. Accessibility of ICT is clearly required by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and it needs to be translated into EU policies and legislation”, he added.

The European Commission, the European Disability Forum and the industry representatives reminded in their interventions about the need to further develop the cooperation among all stakeholders:

Viviane Reding: ”The European industry must play a leading role at the international level in universal design and towards an e-inclusive society. I would like to see more stakeholders working together”.

For Rodolfo Cattani, representing EDF: “Industry’s self commitment on digital TV clearly shows their understanding of inclusive design and of the need to address interoperability. Unfortunately, there is still a gap between words and deeds and many companies are still far from there. Therefore, it is imperative that users, industry and authorities cooperate to set targets and roadmaps, which must be result oriented”.

In several speeches, it was also highlighted the need to ensure the users’ involvement in the e-inclusion debate, as a guarantee for valuable cooperation among all stakeholders.

The General Director of EICTA, Mark Mc Gann, representing the European technology industry, agreed on the current fragmentation of EU’s legal framework in this sector. According to Mc Gann, “legislation is needed, but we need to legislate the end, not the means. We also need more standards on ICT and incentives, such as lower taxes that will encourage the use of ICT”.

In a joint position paper on e-Accessibility presented during the Ministerial Debate by EDF and ANEC, the European consumer voice in standardisation, both organisations insisted on the need for a regulatory framework. The document analyses how the EU is delivering the accessibility of ICT products that consumers expect and suggests new measures to achieve this goal.

In the draft Presidency Conclusions distributed this afternoon at the closing of the Ministerial debate, the EU Presidency has called upon the European Commission and the EU Ministers “to address e-accessibility barriers by strengthening, monitoring and facilitating compliance in requirements in this area”.

It is foreseen that the results of the Ministerial debate will feed the conclusions of the e-Inclusion Council to be held in the first half of 2008, under Slovenian Presidency.

Download the European Commission Communication “To be part of the information society”

Download the Riga Ministerial Declaration 

Download the joint EDF/ANEC Position Paper on e-Accessibility

More information on EDF’s 1million4disability campaign: www.1million4disability.eu

For more information, please contact: Helena González-Sancho Bodero, EDF Communication and Press Officer; Tel office: (+ 32 2) 282 46 04; E-mail: communication@edf-feph.org 

The European Disability Forum (EDF) is the European umbrella organisation representing the interests of 50 million disabled citizens in Europe. EDF membership includes national umbrella organisations of disabled people from all EU/EEA countries, as well as European NGOs representing the different types of disabilities. The mission of the European Disability Forum is to ensure disabled people full access to fundamental and human rights through their active involvement in policy development and implementation in Europe.