Source: European Parliament
The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) includes the built environment in its scope. Article 4.4 provides that ‘Member States may decide, in the light of national conditions, that the built environment used by clients of services covered by this directive shall comply with the accessibility requirements set out in Annex III, in order to maximise their use by persons with disabilities.’ The directive, including, for Member States that decided to ‘opt in’ on Article 4.4., its provision related to the built environment, is applicable since 28 June 2025.
Furthermore, the directive indicates in Article 33, that by 28 June 2030, and every five years thereafter, the Commission shall submit a report on the application of the directive, including in relation to the relevant provisions concerning the built environment.
The Commission, in accordance with Article 15 of the directive, has also issued a standardisation request M587[1] requiring the development of standards. The standardisation request includes the revision for their adoption as harmonised standard of ‘EN 17210 Accessibility and usability of the built environment — Functional requirements’.
- [1] https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/enorm/mandate/587_en.