Activities of Vicente Miguel GARCÉS RAMÓN related to 2012/0340(COD)
Plenary speeches (1)
Accessibility of public sector bodies' websites (debate)
Shadow reports (1)
REPORT on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites PDF (446 KB) DOC (663 KB)
Amendments (41)
Amendment 57 #
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 payments. The provisions of this Directive must be applicable not only to the service itself but also to the entire website on which the service is being provided. Smartphone and tablet apps offering services provided on public bodies’ websites must be explicitly covered by this Directive.
Amendment 62 #
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. Furthermore, with the Riga Declaration of 2006, the Member States pledged to improve the accessibility of public sector bodies’ websites.
Amendment 69 #
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 and integrated social media feeds on websites.
Amendment 78 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 18 a (new)
Recital 18 a (new)
(18a) It is essential that all parties concerned can continue to have unfettered access, free of charge, to the relevant standards and that the responsibility for the application and subsequent development of those standards does not lie exclusively with standards bodies and businesses.
Amendment 80 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 19
Recital 19
(19) The Directive should aim at ensuring that certain types of public sector bodies' websites that are essential to the public are made accessible according to common requirements. Such types were identified in the 2001 E-government benchmarking exercise and have been used as a basis for the list in the Annex. The deadlines for complying with the requirements laid down in this Directive must be staggered so that its scope can be widened to include all public body websites providing services directly to the public.
Amendment 84 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 23
Recital 23
(23) In the absence of such a European standard, presumption of conformity with the web-accessibility requirements should be provided for the websites concerned which meet those parts of the international standard ISO/IEC 40500:2012 covering the Success Criteria and Conformance Requirements for Level AA conformance. The international standard ISO/IEC 40500:2012 is exactly the same as the original Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0. The Success Criteria and Requirements for Level AA conformance specified for web pages in the version 2.0 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.0) from the W3C are broadly recognised by stakeholders both internationally and at European level, to provide the basis for adequate web- accessibility specifications. This has been underlined in the Council Conclusions on Accessible Information Society. Ensuring that the WCAG 2.0 are technologically neutral will help keep this Directive relevant in the future.
Amendment 90 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 24 a (new)
Recital 24 a (new)
(24a) The methodology used to monitor the compliance of the websites concerned with the requirements for web- accessibility on a continuous basis should be issued not later than one year after the adoption of this Directive.
Amendment 95 #
Proposal for a directive
Recital 28
Recital 28
(28) Since the objective of this Directive, namely, the establishment of a harmonised market for the accessibility of public sector bodies' websites, cannot be sufficiently achieved by the Member States, because it requires the harmonisation of different rules currently existing in their respective legal systems and can, therefore, be better achieved at Union level, the Union may adopt measures, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty on the European Union. In accordance with the principle of proportionality, as set out in that Article, this Directive does not go beyond what is necessary in order to achieve that objective. Adopting a harmonised approach to web-accessibility throughout the EU would cut costs for website development companies and therefore also for the public bodies that use their services. In future, access to information and services provided via websites will be increasingly important for the public in exercising their fundamental rights, including access to employment,
Amendment 98 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2
Article 1 – paragraph 2
2. It lays down the rules according to which Member States shall make accessible the content of websites belonging to public sector bodies, the types of which are specified in the Annex. The list in the Annex shall require constant updating in line with technological progress and the digitalisation of the public sector throughout the EU.
Amendment 105 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 2 a (new)
2a. The provisions of this Directive must be applicable not only to the service itself but also to the entire website on which the service is being provided.
Amendment 108 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. This Directive shall be phased in to apply to all websites belonging to public sector bodies by 31 December 2017.
Amendment 109 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 1 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Article 1 – paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Versions of public sector bodies’ websites designed for mobile devices (telephones and tablets) and for functions intended to facilitate mobile access in general shall be explicitly covered by this Directive.
Amendment 132 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Article 3 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to ensure that the websites concerned are made accessible free of charge using neutral technology
Amendment 143 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 a (new)
3a. In keeping with Article 2 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, ‘universal design’ means the design of products, environments, programmes and services to be usable by all people, to the greatest possible extent, without the need for adaptation or specialised design. Universal design shall not exclude assistive devices for particular groups of persons with disabilities where this is needed.
Amendment 144 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 b (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 b (new)
3b. Information on accessibility and all other information provided to consumers shall be set out in accessible formats, taking their preferences fully into account.
Amendment 145 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 3 – paragraph 3 c (new)
Article 3 – paragraph 3 c (new)
3c. Within the limits of their respective activities, website owners shall provide consumers with relevant information so that they can assess the degree of website accessibility.
Amendment 146 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Article 4 – paragraph 1
Amendment 150 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 2
Article 6 – paragraph 2
2. Member States shall take measures to facilitate the application of the web- accessibility requirements as defined in Article 3 to all public sector bodies' websites beyond those concerned, in particular, to public sector bodies' websites covered by existing national laws or relevant measures on web-accessibility. The Member States shall introduce a legal requirement to ensure that public bodies developing websites and other interested parties are made aware of web- accessibility. Furthermore, it shall be mandatory for the Member States to offer training schemes for the staff of public bodies, with a view to improving the practical application of web-accessibility requirements.
Amendment 162 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 4 a (new)
4a. The Commission shall make proposals to the EU institutions with a view to amending legislation so that it complies with the requirements of this Directive.
Amendment 163 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4 b (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 4 b (new)
4b. In each Member State, a public body shall be established that is responsible for applying the law. That body shall become an accessibility resource centre to help public authorities ensure that their websites are accessible, enabling the most representative organisations for disabled people and their families to participate.
Amendment 164 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 6 – paragraph 4 c (new)
Article 6 – paragraph 4 c (new)
4c. The social partners shall participate in the development and application of the above training and awareness-raising schemes.
Amendment 174 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. The Commission shall establish a working group consisting of representatives of the Commission and representatives appointed by the Member States to meet annually in order to discuss about the results of the monitoring and exchange best practices regarding the implementation of this Directive. This working group shall actively involve relevant stakeholders, including persons with disabilities and their representative organisations.
Amendment 179 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 4
Article 7 – paragraph 4
4. The Commission establishes, by way of implementing acts, the methodology for the monitoring of the conformity of the websites concerned with the requirements for web-accessibility as set out in Article 3. That methodology shall be transparent, transferable, comparable and reproducible and it shall be established in close consultation with relevant industry and civil society stakeholders, including, in particular, representative organisations of persons with disabilities. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 9(3). The methodology will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union no later than a year after the adoption of this Directive.
Amendment 185 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 7 – paragraph 6 a (new)
Article 7 – paragraph 6 a (new)
6a. The Member States shall make public, in an easily accessible manner, the list of public body websites that are not accessible.
Amendment 187 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 8 – paragraph 5 a (new)
Article 8 – paragraph 5 a (new)
5a. Disabled persons and organisations representing them shall be involved in any fresh action taken to lay down web accessibility requirements as referred to in Article 3(1).
Amendment 190 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1
Article 10 – paragraph 1
1. Member States shall bring into force the laws, regulations and administrative provisions necessary to comply with this Directive by 30 June1 December 20145 at the latest. They shall forthwith communicate to the Commission the text of those provisions. When Member States adopt those provisions, they shall contain a reference to this Directive or be accompanied by such a reference on the occasion of their official publication. Member States shall determine how such reference is to be made.
Amendment 191 #
Proposal for a directive
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
Article 10 – paragraph 1 a (new)
1a. Member States shall apply the measures referred to in Article 3(1) in accordance with their administrative, institutional and legal framework to all websites: (a) belonging to public sector bodies at national level by 31 December 2015; (b) belonging to public sector bodies at regional level or to cities with more than 100 000 inhabitants by 31 December 2016; (c) belonging to public sector bodies at local level with fewer than 100 000 inhabitants by 31 December 2017; (d) operated by entities providing basic services to the public (the types of which are specified in the Annex) by 31 December 2017.
Amendment 206 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 10
Annex – point 10
(10) Enrolment in higher education or universityPrimary, secondary, higher and adult education
Amendment 212 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12
Annex – point 12
(12) Health-related services: interactive advice on the availability of services, online services for patients, appointments.
Amendment 215 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 a (new)
Annex – point 12 a (new)
(12a) Gas, heating, electricity, water services
Amendment 219 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 b (new)
Annex – point 12 b (new)
(12b) Transport-related services
Amendment 221 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 c (new)
Annex – point 12 c (new)
(12c) Postal services
Amendment 224 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 d (new)
Annex – point 12 d (new)
(12d) Electronic communication network and services
Amendment 227 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 e (new)
Annex – point 12 e (new)
(12e) Basic banking and insurance services (such as basic payment accounts, home contents and building insurance, life insurance and medical insurance)
Amendment 228 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 f (new)
Annex – point 12 f (new)
(12f) Statutory and complementary social security schemes in various forms (mutual or occupational), covering the main risks of life, such as those linked to health, ageing, occupational accidents, unemployment, retirement and disability
Amendment 230 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 g (new)
Annex – point 12 g (new)
(12g) Childcare services
Amendment 232 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 h (new)
Annex – point 12 h (new)
(12h) Other essential services provided directly to the public to facilitate social inclusion and safeguard fundamental rights (such as assistance services to people facing personal crises such as debt or unemployment, reintegration or rehabilitation services and social housing services for disadvantaged citizens or socially less advantaged groups)
Amendment 235 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 i (new)
Annex – point 12 i (new)
(12i) Local, regional, national and European elections
Amendment 236 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 j (new)
Annex – point 12 j (new)
(12j) Social networks
Amendment 238 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 k (new)
Annex – point 12 k (new)
(12k) Cultural activities and centres
Amendment 239 #
Proposal for a directive
Annex – point 12 l (new)
Annex – point 12 l (new)
(12l) Information and tourist information