European Blind Union

Recently, the European Blind Union participated in the European Commission's call for evidence on the Citizens' Omnibus Initiative to simplify travel and tourism.

📢 In its response, EBU underscored that "the EC should ensure that any simplification of tourism and travel procedures is based on accessible-by-default digital systems and consistent requirements across the travel and tourism ecosystem."

👉 By ensuring that is integrated into the simplification of travel and tourism services, the EU can make travel more inclusive, independent, and enjoyable for millions of and travellers.

Visit our website to read our full response: https://tinyurl.com/5pcd5wdy

📝 The European Blind Union recently published a report on a survey to a sample of 18 of our National Organisations on the accessibility of payment terminals.

The picture is consistent across the sample. Touchscreen payment terminals that lack tactile reference, audio output, and headphones support are already widely deployed across Europe, and their share is growing rapidly. A small number of countries report meaningfully accessible solutions in field deployment.

The main cross-country recommendations emerging from the sample are:

- Mandatory voice output and private audio (headphones) support on every terminal.
- Tactile reference marks on the screen.
- A single European technical standard that manufacturers adopt so users are not forced to re-learn each brand.
- A prohibition on randomised PIN-pad layouts.
- A remedy for the existing stock of inaccessible devices, not only for new market approvals.

Read the full report here: https://tinyurl.com/28bz5829

📢 Civil Society to European Leaders: Deliver a Budget That is Up to the Challenge!

On 18th and 19th June, the Council of the European Union will meet to discuss the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the 2028-2034 period.

Alongside other civil society organisations, Civil Society Europe (CSE) has launched an open letter to ask the European Council to back a strong MFF covered by adequate new own resources.

📅 If you wish to sign the letter, you can do it by filling out the following form by 14th June: https://tinyurl.com/3dffsdn6

🤝 Being the voice of and people in Europe means having close ties with our National Members.

A delegation from the European Blind Union (EBU) spent two days in Bratislava in May 2026, visiting the Union of the Blind and Partially Sighted of Slovakia (UNSS - Únia nevidiacich a slabozrakých Slovenska) for a programme of working sessions, partner presentations, and cultural exchanges.

The visit reinforced a recurring truth: closing the gap between rights on paper and rights in practice takes organisations like UNSS, working persistently and inventively, year after year.

🔜 A full report about the visit will be available soon.