Parliament is voting on new rules to improve access to products and services for the millions of disabled and elderly Europeans. From cash machines to mobile phones the Accessibility Act will ensure ease of access to everyday goods and services.

EU politics

European Accessibility Act: Better access for the disabled

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/16946403/N01-PUB-190304-ACCE-EN.srt

Some 80 million Europeans with disabilities

Parliament wants to make sure people with disabilities

New measures include ensuring wheelchair and deaf-blind access

to services like ticket machines and cash points,

that air, bus and rail passenger services are properly adapted

and that digital services from online banking to e-books and software

take into account the needs of the disabled.

"These long-awaited rules will make a big difference not only to the millions of citizens with disabilities,

but also to lot more people, such as elderly persons."

The new rules will also encourage businesses to innovate,

with more accessible products and services.

And because it would be unreasonable to force every small retailer

micro-enterprises will be either fully or partially exempted from the new law.