The ECB and ONCE Foundation have signed an agreement to ensure the digital euro app is accessible for all, including people with disabilities, through technical advice, design collaboration, and accessibility testing.
The European Central Bank (ECB) and the ONCE Foundation for Cooperation and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities have signed a collaboration agreement to promote and develop an accessible digital euro app for everyone, including people with disabilities, limited digital skills, and older adults.
The ECB will leverage the foundation’s expertise in three main areas: (i) providing technical advice on accessibility requirements and features, (ii) collaborating on app design, and (iii) testing accessibility of app prototypes once available.
ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone stated that “accessibility and inclusion are not optional features, but core digital euro design principles.” Jesús Hernández Galán, Director of Accessibility and Innovation at the ONCE Foundation, emphasized the importance of integrating accessibility features from the beginning and involving experts with lived experience.
This collaboration supports the ECB’s goal to exceed legal accessibility requirements, such as those in the European Accessibility Act, by adopting an “accessibility by design” approach. The initiative aims to make the digital euro app clear, understandable, and easy to navigate, potentially informing user experience standards for payment service providers.
Digital financial inclusion is a key aspect of the digital euro’s design. Consumer groups have highlighted the importance of an accessible app for universal access. User-friendly features like voice control, large-font displays, and guided onboarding are seen as ways to enhance inclusion and accessibility.
The ECB plans to involve the public through focus groups, especially vulnerable consumers, to gather insights on onboarding options, user experience, and reassurance needs. The collaboration aligns with European regulations on accessibility, rights, and digital transformation, promoting standards for a user-friendly digital euro for all citizens.
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