Activities of Zoltán BAGÓ related to 2012/0340(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Accessibility of public sector bodies' websites (debate)
Amendments (33)
Amendment 56 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 1
Recital 1
(1) The trend towards a digital society provides users with new ways of accessing information and services. The providers of information and services, such as public sector bodies, rely increasingly on the Internet in order to produce, collect and provide a wide range of information and services online, which are essential to the public. In this respect, the security of transmission of information and the protection of personal data are of great importance.
Amendment 58 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 2
Recital 2
(2) Web-accessibility refers to principles and techniques to be observed when constructing websites in order to render the content of these websites accessible to all users, in particular people with functional limitations, including persons with disabilities. The content of websites includes textual as well as non-textual information, and also the downloading of forms and two-way interaction, e.g. the processing of digital forms, authentication, and transactions like case handling and paymentscluding persons with disabilities and elderly people.
Amendment 61 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 3
Recital 3
(3) The Commission's eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 calls for action to develop eGovernment services that ensure inclusiveness and accessibility. At the same time, more efforts are needed for the effective implementation of the e- Inclusion policy, which aims at reducing gaps in ICT usage and promoting the use of ICT to overcome exclusion, and improve economic performance, employment opportunities, quality of life, social participation and cohesion, including democratic consultations.
Amendment 63 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4
Recital 4
(4) In its Communication ‘entitled 'A Digital Agenda for Europe’', a Europe 2020 initiative, the Commission announced that public sector websites should be fully accessible by 2015.
Amendment 64 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 4 a (new)
Recital 4 a (new)
(4a) It is highly important to increase of synergies between flagships initiatives such as "Digital Agenda for Europe", "New skills and jobs", "Innovation Union", "Youth on the move", "Resource-efficient Europe" and "European Platform Against Poverty and Exclusion".
Amendment 65 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 6
Recital 6
(6) By ratifying the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (‘'the UN Convention’'), the majority of the Member States and the Union, by its conclusion, have committed themselves ‘"to ensure to persons with disabilities access, on equal basis with others, to inter alia information and communication technologies’" and ‘"to take appropriate measures […...] to promote access for persons with disabilities to new information and communications technologies and systems, sign languages, including the Internet.’"
Amendment 67 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 7
Recital 7
(7) The European Disability Strategy 2010- 2020, which aims to break down the barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from participating in society on an equal basis, builds on the UN Convention and contains actions in several priority areas, including web accessibility, with the objective ‘"to ensure accessibility to goods and services including public services and assistive devices for people with disabilities.’
Amendment 68 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 8 a (new)
Recital 8 a (new)
(8a) The European Parliament resolution of 25 October 2011 on mobility and inclusion of people with disabilities and the European Disability Strategy 2010- 20201 stresses that innovative and knowledge-based economies cannot develop without accessible content and forms for people with disabilities governed by binding legislation, such as accessible websites for the blind and subtitled contents for the hard of hearing, including mass media services, online services for people using sign languages, smart phone applications and tactile and vocal aids in public media2. __________________ 1 OJ C 131 E, 8.5.2013, p. 9
Amendment 70 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 9
Recital 9
(9) The fast growing web-accessibility market comprises a range of economic operators such as those developing websites or software tools to create, manage and test web pages, developing user agents such as web browsers and related assistive technologies, implementing certification services and training providers. In this respect, of a great importance are the efforts made in the framework of the Grand Coalition for Digital Jobs, which is a follow-up to the Employment Package, and addresses ICT specialists and aims to respond to the skills gaps, including literacy and working skills, in the ICT sector.
Amendment 73 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 15
Recital 15
(15) Citizens should benefit from wider access to online public sector services and should receive services and information which will facilitate their daily lives and the enjoyment of their rights across the Union, notably their right to move and reside freely within the territory of the Union and their freedom of establishment and to provide services.
Amendment 75 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 16
Recital 16
(16) The web–accessibility requirements defined in this Directive are technology neutral. They only indicate which basic functionalities have to be fulfilled for the user to perceive, operate or understand a site and its content. They do not specify how this has to be achieved or what technology should be selected for a particular site, on-line information or application. As such they do not hamper innovation and shall be platform independent at the end users.
Amendment 77 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18
Recital 18
(18) As underlined in the Digital Agenda for Europe, public authorities should play their part in promoting markets for online content. Governments can stimulate content markets by making public sector information available under transparent, effective and non-discriminatory conditions. This is an important source of potential growth of innovative online services. In addition to that, new and innovative pilot projects shall be used in this sense, for example in the field of sign language from 2013 based on the European Parliament's financing decision of 6 June 2013 to have allocated a budget of EUR 750,000 for further development.
Amendment 82 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 21
Recital 21
(21) The Commission has already issued a mandate M/376 to the European Standardisation Organisations, to develop a European standard specifying the functional accessibility requirements for ICT products and services, including web content, which could be used in public procurement as well as for other purposes like procurement in the private sector. To this end, the European Standardisation Organisations are required to establish close co-operation with relevant industry standards forums and consortia including the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C/WAI). A harmonised standard that would provide presumption of conformity with the web-accessibility requirements laid down in this Directive should be built upon the outcome of this work. It should be recalled that, in accordance with the progress report issued by the Council on 24 May 2013, 23 Member States have already developed their national web accessibility policies and standards.
Amendment 87 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24
Recital 24
(24) The conformity with web-accessibility requirements should be continuously monitored from the initial construction of the public sector bodies' website to all subsequent updates of its content. A harmonised monitoring methodology would cover a way of verifying, on a uniform basis in all Members States, the degree of compliance of the website with the requirements for web-accessibility, the collection of representative samples and the periodicity of the monitoring.. Member States should report annually on the outcome of the monitoring and more generally on the list of actions taken in application of this Directive, which shall be open to the public.
Amendment 92 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 25
Recital 25
(25) In a harmonised framework, the web- developers industry should face fewer barriers to operate in the internal market, while costs for governments and others procuring web-accessibility products and services should be reduced which would contribute to economic growth and employment.
Amendment 93 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 27
Recital 27
(27) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the relevant provisions of this Directive, implementing powers should be conferred to the Commission. The examination procedure should be used for the definition of the methodology that Member States should use for monitoring the conformity of the websites concerned with those requirements. The advisory procedure should be used for the determination of the modalities according to which Member States should report to the Commission on the result of this monitoring. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers. Special attention should be paid to the composition of the committee referred to in this Directive with regard to the participation of persons with disabilities.
Amendment 97 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Article 1 – paragraph 1
1. This Directive aims at approximating the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States related to the accessibility of the content, including audiovisual content, of public sector bodies' websites to all users, in particular people with functional limitations including persons with disabilities, as well as for elderly persons.
Amendment 128 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
(8a) 'Web-accessibility' means principles and techniques to be observed when constructing websites concerned in order to render the content of those websites accessible to all users, including people with disabilities and elderly persons. Web- accessibility refers in particular to principles and techniques that enhance users' perception, navigation, operation, interaction and understanding, and includes the use of assistive technology, sign language, or augmentative and alternative communication. The content of websites includes textual as well as non-textual information, and also the downloading of forms and two-way interaction, e.g. the processing of digital forms, authentication, and transactions like case handling and payments.
Amendment 129 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
Article 2 – paragraph 1 – point 8 a (new)
(8a) 'Assistive technology' means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, acquired commercially as such as well as financed by Union budget or Funds as a pilot project or distributed by the Government, or modified, or customised, and used to increase, maintain, or improve the functional capabilities of persons with disabilities
Amendment 134 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – point a
(a) in a consistent and adequate way for users' perception, operation and understanding, including persons with disabilities, and for elderly persons, as well as the adaptability of content presentation and interaction, when necessary, providing an accessible electronic alternative;
Amendment 153 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. Member States shall urge on new ICT solutions which are user-friendly and intended for persons with disabilities and elderly people, and shall promote training and education to increase their digital knowledge.
Amendment 160 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4
Article 6 – paragraph 4
4. Member States shall cooperate at Union level with industry, social partners and civil society stakeholders, with facilitation by the Commission, in order to review, for the purpose of the annual reporting referred to in Article 7(4), market and technological developments and progress in web- accessibility and to exchange best practices. A particular attention shall be granted to the competitiveness of companies in the sector, especially of SMEs, so as no extra burdens are imposed on their functioning.
Amendment 173 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States shall take the measures necessary to accessibly inform the users or other interested parties of the possibility of lodging complaints, referred to in subparagraph 1 to the designated competent authority. The lodging of the complaints must be made possible in an accessible manner.
Amendment 216 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 a (new)
Annex – point 12 a (new)
(12a) Gas, heat, electricity, water services
Amendment 220 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 b (new)
Annex – point 12 b (new)
(12b) Public transport-related services
Amendment 223 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 c (new)
Annex – point 12 c (new)
(12c) Basic banking and insurance services (such as basic payment account, home contents and building insurance, life insurance or medical insurance
Amendment 225 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 d (new)
Annex – point 12 d (new)
(12d) Postal services
Amendment 226 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 e (new)
Annex – point 12 e (new)
(12e) Services of primary, secondary and higher education.
Amendment 229 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 f (new)
Annex – point 12 f (new)
(12f) Services of statutory and complementary social security schemes, organised in various ways (mutual or occupational organisations), covering the main risks of life, such as those linked to health, ageing, occupational accidents, unemployment, retirement and disability.(7) Childcare services
Amendment 231 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 g (new)
Annex – point 12 g (new)
(12g) Public information
Amendment 233 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 h (new)
Annex – point 12 h (new)
(12h) 112 Emergency services
Amendment 234 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 i (new)
Annex – point 12 i (new)
(12i) Public education
Amendment 237 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 j (new)
Annex – point 12 j (new)
(12j) Cultural activities