This statement applies to content published on the domain https://ec.europa.eu.
It does not apply to other content or websites published on any of its subdomains. These websites and their content will have their own specific accessibility statement.
This website is managed by Eurostat. It is designed to be used by as many people as possible, including people with disabilities.
You should be able to:
- zoom up to 200% without problems
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using a modern screen reader and speech recognition software on your computer or phone
Compatibility with browsers and assistive technology
The Eurostat website is designed to be compatible with the following most used assistive technologies:
- the latest version of Google Chrome and Apple Safari browsers
- in combination with the latest versions of JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack.
Technical specifications
The accessibility of Cros portal relies on the following technologies to work with the particular combination of web browser and any assistive technologies or plugins installed on your computer:
- HTML
- WAI-ARIA
- CSS
- JavaScript
Non-accessible content
Despite our best efforts to ensure accessibility of the Eurostat website, we are aware of some limitations, which we are working to fix. Below is a description of known limitations and potential solutions. Please contact us if you encounter an issue not listed below.
Known limitations for the Eurostat website:
- Maps (images): Some content in the maps has no alternative for visually impaired visitors.
- Interactive maps: Interactive maps are not always accessible to blind users and users who rely on keyboard navigation.
- Infographics / images: Some of the infographics or images on our website may still have no or insufficient text alternatives for people with a vision impairment. This is especially the case for news articles before 2023. For newer content, alternative texts have been added.
- Interactive tools / visualizations: The interactive tools and visualizations on this site do not always have text alternatives. We are aware that this is inaccessible for people using the screen reader or keyboard. However, all visualizations provide a direct link to the source dataset to display the data in table format. We plan to fix the majority of issue for our interactive tools during 2024.
- Data Browser (data extraction tool): This tool is not fully accessible to blind users and users who rely on keyboard navigation. We plan to fix the outstanding issues by the end of the first quarter 2025.
- Census Hub: This tool is not accessible to blind users and users who rely on keyboard navigation. We plan to fix this over the course of 2024.
- Many documents in PDF, Word or Excel format produced by Eurostat are not accessible. Work is ongoing, with a priority for the most visited documents. We will fix this during 2024.
- Documents from third parties (not funded by Eurostat): Documents in PDF, Word or Excel format coming from national statistical institutes and/or other statistical organizations, which have not been (co-) produced, funded or developed by Eurostat, might not be accessible. Eurostat is committed to raise awareness about accessibility issues to the owners / authors of such documents.
- Videos: Some videos on this website do not have audio description.
What is Alt Text?
Alt text (alternative text) is a brief, written description of an image that:
- Provides context for screen reader users, enabling them to understand the content and purpose of the image.
Displays as a fallback when an image cannot load, ensuring no critical information is lost.
Best Practices for Writing Alt Text
Be Concise and Specific: Clearly describe the content or function of the image in 1-2 sentences.
Example: For a picture of a cat on a couch, use "A black cat sleeping on a grey couch."
Skip Decorative Details: If the image is purely decorative, mark it as decorative using your platform’s settings, so it’s skipped by screen readers.
Why Accessibility Matters
- Inclusivity: Improves the experience for users with visual impairments.
- Legal Compliance: Meets accessibility standards like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
- SEO Benefits: Search engines index alt text, improving your content’s visibility.
By adhering to these guidelines, you help create a more inclusive and user-friendly digital environment for everyone. Thank you for making accessibility a priority!