Press Releases

EBU Press Releases

2018

• 11 November 2018, Setting the bar too low - disappointing agreement reached on European Accessibility Act.
  Press release in English available in pdf and docx versions.
   
• 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 available in pdf and docx versions.
   
• 01 October 2018, Access to accessible format books: EU and EBU on the same page.
  Press release in English available in pdf and docx versions.
   
• 27 September 2018, Accessibility act: no more sitting on the fence
  Press release in English available in pdf and docx versions.
   
• 04 July 2018, EBU Urges Austrian Presidency to Engage in Constructive Negotiations on Flagship European Accessibility Act
  Press release in English available in pdf and docx versions.
   
• 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. They released a joint press release in English available in pdf and docx format also available in Italian (pdf), Italian (doc)
   
• 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 version, doc version
   
• 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 version, doc version
   
• 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 version, .doc version

2017

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

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