Press Releases

EBU Press Releases

2019

• 09 April 2019, A New Chapter Begins, EU finally adopts European Accessibility Act.
  Press release in English (pdf).
   
• 20 February 2019, STATEMENT ON EUROPEAN ELECTIONS 2019, EBU campaigns for better disability policies.
  Press release in English (pdf).

2018

• 11 November 2018, Setting the bar too low - disappointing agreement reached on European Accessibility Act.
  Press release in English (pdf).
   
• 08 November 2018, Audio-visual media services on the spot; broadcasters now obliged to cast a wider net to include persons with visual or hearing disabilities.
  Press release in English (pdf).
   
• 01 October 2018, Access to accessible format books: EU and EBU on the same page.
  Press release in English (pdf).
   
• 27 September 2018, Accessibility act: no more sitting on the fence.
  Press release in English (pdf).
   
• 04 July 2018, EBU Urges Austrian Presidency to Engage in Constructive Negotiations on Flagship European Accessibility Act.
  Press release in English (pdf).
   
• 28 May 2018, Joint EBU - FEP Press Release, The European Blind Union and the Federation of European Publishers met in Brussels on May 23, 2018 (pdf). They released a joint press release,  also available in Italian (pdf).
   
• 08 March 2018, In a world where an estimated two-thirds of blind people are women, EBU is commemorating this year's International Women's Day on March 8 with the release of a new video. - Press Release in English (pdf).
   
• 28 February 2018, How Accessible will the Europe of the Future be for the Blind and Partially Sighted? The European Blind Union releases a new Position Paper on the “European Accessibility Act” - Press Release in English (pdf)
   
• 17 January 2018, The European Parliament is discussing and voting , the 17th and 18th of January 2018, its recommendation on the draft Council decision on the conclusion on behalf of the European Union of the Marrakesh Treaty. Press Release in English (pdf).

2017

• 11 May 2017, The European Blind Union celebrates agreement on Marrakesh Treaty legislation, regrets optional “tax on accessible books” - Press Release in English, Spanish and Hungarian (pdf files)

2016 (all the following documents are word)

• 27 October 2016, An Accessibility Success Story - Press Release in English
• 13 October 2016, World Sight Day - Press Release in English
• 29 September 2016, The Marrakech Treaty comes into force – but not for EU citizens! - Press release in English
• 10 March 2016, Access to online services: 20 European NGOs tell EU ministers ‘no one should be left behind' - Press release in English
• 03 February 2016, European Parliament demands EU ratification of Marrakesh Treaty - Press release in English

2015

• 10 December 2015, “Right to read” for blind and low vision Europeans still denied – access to literary works locked. Press release in English.
• 03 December 2015, Commission proposes long-awaited EU Accessibility Act.  A new dawn for Europe's blind and partially sighted people? Press release in English.
• 02 December 2015, Access to Web Content: EU Governments' Plans ‘A Disgrace' says EBU President. Press release in English, also available in Hungarian (External link) and Italian.
• 16 September 2015, Petition's committee of the European Parliament supports the “Right to read campaign” to end the stalemate of EUs ratification process of the Marrakesh Treaty. Press release in English
• 25 June 2015, EU member states need to ratify the Marrakech Treaty now EBU/ EDF joint press release in English
• 10 June 2015, European Blind Union to EU Ministers: “Our right to access the web is not negotiable” Press release in Italian and English
• 07 May 2015, Germany and Italy – stop blocking EU ratification of our right-to-read Treaty! Press release in English

2014

• 18 December 2014, Launch of the new EBU brochure 'Minimum standards for low vision services in Europe'.

  Press release in English

• 25 November 2014, International Day for the elimination of violence against women

  'The right to live without violence' Press release in English

• 11 November 2014, European Blind Union publishes ‘Access denied' report

  Press release in English and Italian

• 01 October 2014, EBU announces the winners of the Onkyo World Braille Essay Contest 2014

  Press release in English

• 10 July 2014, VISAL - a toolkit to help with age-related sight loss

  Press release in English

• 29 April 2014, EU signature of the Marrakesh treaty! Next step ratification?

  Press release in English

• 26 March 2014, Europe's Cities - Not so friendly for the elderly visually impaired

  Press release in English (joint press relase with AGE Platform Europe and the European Guide Dog Federation)

• 27 February 2014,‘92% of MEPs want accessible websites, now Council must act' says EBU!
  Press release in English

See also the EBU Newsletter