ECB and ONCE Foundation promote accessible digital euro

Accessibility by design guides the digital euro, with voice control, large fonts, and guided onboarding for a user-friendly experience.

The ECB partners with the ONCE Foundation to make the digital euro app accessible to people with disabilities, older adults, and those with limited digital skills.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has joined forces with Spain’s ONCE Foundation to ensure the digital euro app is accessible to all citizens, including people with disabilities, older adults, and those with limited digital skills.

The partnership focuses on technical advice, design collaboration, and testing prototypes for accessibility.

ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone said accessibility is a core principle of the digital euro, designed to empower all citizens in the digital age. ONCE Foundation Director Jesús Hernández Galán said experts with lived disability experience are helping make the digital euro app practical and user-friendly.

The collaboration supports an ‘accessibility by design’ approach, going beyond minimum legal requirements under the European Accessibility Act.

Features under consideration include voice-controlled transactions, large-font displays, guided onboarding, and multiple support options to ensure clarity, simplicity, and control for users less confident with digital tools.

Public input will also shape the app’s development, with focus groups and vulnerable consumer feedback guiding design choices. The partnership follows European accessibility and digital regulations, promoting a user-friendly and inclusive digital euro for all.

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