Citizens with disabilities, including for instance elderly people, will have broader access to most public-sector websites and mobile applications, according to an EU law voted today by the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

S&D Group spokesperson for the issue, S&D Euro MP Josef Weidenholzer said:

"It took some time to reach a final agreement, but we made it. This directive is an important step towards an inclusive digital society. It will ensure that public-sector bodies’ websites and mobile applications are accessible to everyone.

"Today we are showing that Europe does good and positive things for its people. We live in a digital age. All citizens – including those who are blind, deaf or live with any disability – must be treated equally when it comes to access to information. Sometimes just one click on the corner of a computer screen or an audio command can make a huge difference."

S&D Group spokesperson for the internal market, Evelyne Gebhardt added:

"This directive is a first step. We hope that we will be able extend this proposal to public broadcasters and major websites in the private sector."