¿Sabias que los proyectos apoyados por Fondos Europeos/Next Generation EU tienen la obligación de ser accesibles?
In a world increasingly aware of the importance of inclusion and accessibility, EU-funded projects, particularly through the Next Generation EU programme, are undergoing fundamental change.
Starting in 2021, projects receiving financial support from the European Union were required to make their web initiatives accessible to everyone. This is a significant and entirely necessary measure to promote a more inclusive and equitable Europe, and today, we will explore the importance of this obligation and how it impacts European society.
What is Aid through Next Generation EU European Funds?
The Next Generation EU Aid represents an ambitious economic recovery and transformation program promoted by the European Union to face the economic and social challenges derived from the COVID-19 pandemic.
With an unprecedented financial commitment of 750 billion euros, this program stands as a forceful response to revitalize the European economy and move towards a more resilient, sustainable Europe concerned with technological advancement.
In this context, Next Generation EU establishes rigorous requirements so that funded projects are accessible and comply with international web accessibility standards.
What requirements are required to obtain Aid from European Funds for web Accessibility?
To be more exact, the requirements established for your business to qualify for aid granted through European funds in the context of accessibility are based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG, for its acronym in English) developed by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).
These guidelines establish recognized international standards to ensure web accessibility. Where the different key requirements are collected under the following premises:
- Perception: Make the website accessible to everyone, with alternative texts, subtitles and a clear navigation structure, among other key guidelines.
- Operability: Allow everyone to navigate and use the web easily, even with keyboard and screen readers.
- Comprehension: Make web content clear and predictable.
- Robustness: Ensure that the website works on different technologies and browsers.
Projects funded by European funds, including Next Generation EU Grants, are required to comply with at least WCAG conformity level AA. Additionally, they may require accessibility audits and testing to ensure compliance with these standards.
Failure to comply with these requirements may result in penalties and possible loss of funds. Therefore, it is essential that recipients of these funds understand and rigorously comply with established web accessibility standards.
What sanctions could companies that are benefiting from Aid Financed by the European Union face whose websites are not accessible?
Failure to comply with web accessibility obligations in projects financed by European funds, such as Next Generation EU Grants, may lead to a series of sanctions and consequences, which may include:
- Financial Fines: Beneficiary companies may face significant fines for failing to comply with web accessibility obligations. The amount of the fine may vary depending on the severity of the non-compliance.
- Suspension of Funds: In certain cases of non-compliance, European authorities may choose to suspend or withhold the funds that would be granted to the project. This can seriously affect the financing and development of the project.
- Review and Audits: Authorities may carry out periodic reviews and audits to evaluate compliance with web accessibility obligations. These audits can be costly and consume time and resources.
- Litigation and Lawsuits: People with disabilities or rights organizations can file lawsuits against the beneficiary company for not complying with accessibility requirements. This can result in costly litigation and additional penalties.
If your web projects still do not meet the required accessibility standards and you are afraid of losing your financing, we offer you our support and experience at Your Accessible Web.
