European Commission ec.europa.eu
Accessibility score
League position
10thof 10
Issues found
5
Audits passed
49
Accessibility score over time
weekly scans · last 6 months- Good · 90+
- Needs improvement · 70–89
- Poor · Below 70
This month's scan
Issues found
SeriousElements must meet minimum color contrast ratio thresholds2 elements
People with low vision or color blindness cannot read text that lacks sufficient contrast with its background. With nearly three times more people having low vision than total blindness, and 8% of men and 0.4% of women having color deficiencies, adequate contrast is essential for making text readable to millions of users.
Failing Elements
<p>President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will deliver the annual State of the Union address on 16 September, outlining the EU's key priorities and vision for the year ahead.</p>
Fix any of the following:
- Element has insufficient color contrast of 4.35 (foreground color: #ffffff, background color: #905fd9, font size: 13.5pt (18px), font weight: normal). Expected contrast ratio of 4.5:1
<span class="ecl-link__label">Discover</span>
Fix any of the following:
- Element has insufficient color contrast of 4.35 (foreground color: #ffffff, background color: #905fd9, font size: 13.5pt (18px), font weight: normal). Expected contrast ratio of 4.5:1
SeriousLinks must have discernible text4 elements
Keyboard users and screen reader users can only interact with links that have accessible names and can receive focus. Without proper names, users don't know where links lead. Without keyboard focus, users who cannot use a mouse cannot activate the links at all.
Failing Elements
<a href="https://ec.social-network.europa.eu/@EUCommission" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-social-media-follow__link ecl-link--icon-only">
Fix all of the following:
- Element is in tab order and does not have accessible text
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-social-media-follow__link ecl-link--icon-only">
Fix all of the following:
- Element is in tab order and does not have accessible text
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
<a href="https://wsocial.eu/profile/ec.europa.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-social-media-follow__link ecl-link--icon-only">
Fix all of the following:
- Element is in tab order and does not have accessible text
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
<a href="https://european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/social-media-channels_en" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-social-media-follow__link ecl-link--icon-only">
Fix all of the following:
- Element is in tab order and does not have accessible text
Fix any of the following:
- Element does not have text that is visible to screen readers
- aria-label attribute does not exist or is empty
- aria-labelledby attribute does not exist, references elements that do not exist or references elements that are empty
- Element has no title attribute
SeriousFocused elements must not be entirely hidden by author-created content5 elements
Keyboard users have no pointer to show where they are. The focus indicator is their only cue, and a sticky header, footer, cookie banner, or other author-created overlay that completely hides the focused control strands them with no idea what will activate next.
Failing Elements
<a href="https://ec.social-network.europa.eu/@EUCommission" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-s...">
<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commissi..." class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-s...">
<a href="https://wsocial.eu/profile/ec.europa.eu/" class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-s...">
<a href="https://european-union.europa.eu/contact-eu/social..." class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-link--icon ecl-s...">
<a href="https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/feedback_rand..." class="ecl-link ecl-link--primary-highlight-inverted ecl-...">
ModerateLandmarks should have a unique role or role/label/title (i.e. accessible name) combination1 element
Each landmark on a page must have either a unique role or a unique accessible name. Duplicate landmarks confuse screen reader users about which section they're navigating to, making it difficult to efficiently move through the page structure.
Failing Elements
<div class="ecl-site-header__search-container" role="search">
Fix any of the following:
- The landmark must have a unique aria-label, aria-labelledby, or title to make landmarks distinguishable
ModerateAll page content should be contained by landmarks2 elements
Content should be organized within high-level landmark regions like <header>, <navigation>, <main>, and <footer>. Content outside these sections is difficult to find and its purpose may be unclear, making navigation inefficient for screen reader users who rely on landmarks to understand page structure.
Failing Elements
<span class="wt-globan--text-long">An official website of the European Union</span>
Fix any of the following:
- Some page content is not contained by landmarks
<div class="featured-page-header" id="block-ewcms-theme-page-header">
Fix any of the following:
- Some page content is not contained by landmarks
Passed audits49 across 1 page
<html> element must have a lang attribute1 element
Screen readers need language information to switch between pronunciation libraries. Without a specified language, screen readers default to the user's preferred language, resulting in incorrect pronunciation that sounds like a strange accent and makes content difficult or impossible to understand.
Audit Elements
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#" class="js hydrated">
<html> element must have a valid value for the lang attribute1 element
Screen readers use language-specific sound libraries for proper pronunciation. Invalid language attributes cause screen readers to use the wrong library, making text sound like a confusing accent or completely unintelligible, especially for multilingual users who access content in multiple languages.
Audit Elements
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#" class="js hydrated">
<li> elements must be contained in a <ul> or <ol>34 elements
Lists require proper semantic hierarchy with ul or ol parent elements and li child elements. This structure allows screen readers to announce when users enter a list, how many items it contains, and which item they're currently on, providing essential context for understanding the content.
Audit Elements
<li class="ecl-mega-menu__item" data-ecl-mega-menu-item="" id="ecl-mega-menu-item-ecl-mega-menu-1294856168-0">
<li class="ecl-mega-menu__item ecl-mega-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-mega-menu-item="" data-ecl-has-children="" aria-haspopup="true" id="ecl-mega-menu-item-ecl-mega-menu-1294856168-1">
<li class="ecl-mega-menu__item ecl-mega-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-mega-menu-item="" data-ecl-has-children="" aria-haspopup="true" id="ecl-mega-menu-item-ecl-mega-menu-1294856168-2">
<li class="ecl-mega-menu__item ecl-mega-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-mega-menu-item="" data-ecl-has-children="" aria-haspopup="true" id="ecl-mega-menu-item-ecl-mega-menu-1294856168-3">
<li class="ecl-mega-menu__item ecl-mega-menu__item--has-children" data-ecl-mega-menu-item="" data-ecl-has-children="" aria-haspopup="true" id="ecl-mega-menu-item-ecl-mega-menu-1294856168-4">
Showing first 5 of 34 audited elements.
<svg> elements with an img or image role must have alternative text1 element
SVG images need text alternatives so their information can be accessed through any sensory modality - visual, auditory, or tactile. Text alternatives enable screen readers to convert visual information into speech or braille, support future translation into sign language, and ensure content is accessible regardless of a user's sensory abilities.
Audit Elements
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
<ul> and <ol> must only directly contain <li>, <script> or <template> elements6 elements
Lists must contain only li elements as direct children (besides non-content elements like script or style). When other content elements appear within ul or ol tags, screen readers cannot properly inform users they're listening to list items, breaking the expected list navigation experience.
Audit Elements
<ul class="ecl-mega-menu__list">
<ul class="ecl-social-media-follow__list">
<ul class="ecl-add-to-calendar__meta-list">
<ul class="ecl-site-footer__list">
<ul class="ecl-social-media-follow__list">
Showing first 5 of 6 audited elements.
All page content should be contained by landmarks490 elements
Content should be organized within high-level landmark regions like <header>, <navigation>, <main>, and <footer>. Content outside these sections is difficult to find and its purpose may be unclear, making navigation inefficient for screen reader users who rely on landmarks to understand page structure.
Audit Elements
<a href="#main-content" class="ecl-link ecl-link--primary ecl-skip-link" id="skip-id">Skip to main content</a>
<div id="cck_here">
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<div class="wt-cck--container">
<div class="wt-cck--wrapper">
Showing first 5 of 490 audited elements.
Alternative text of images should not be repeated as text22 elements
Duplicating alternative text adjacent to an image or link forces screen readers to announce the same information twice. This redundancy is unnecessary and confusing, especially when image buttons repeat their labels in nearby text.
Audit Elements
<img src="https://webtools.europa.eu/images/flags/eu.svg" class="wt-img--flags wt-icon--m wt-globan--flag" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="">
<img class="ecl-site-header__logo-image ecl-site-header__logo-image--l" src="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/logo/logo-ec--mute.svg" alt="European Commission logo">
<img class="ecl-banner__image" src="/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_full_width_banner_4_1/public/2025-11/GettyImages-1345022057.jpg.webp?h=0c55f364&itok=3ZFBpNWr" alt="">
<img class="ecl-content-item__image" src="https://commission.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-070386/00-02.jpg?itok=auEKeFjU" alt="Visit of Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), to the European Commission">
<img class="ecl-content-item__image" src="https://commission.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-070336/00-05.jpg?itok=75UIilgx" alt="The Berlaymont illuminated with Ukrainian flag's colours">
Showing first 5 of 22 audited elements.
ARIA attributes must be used as specified for the element's role22 elements
Using ARIA attributes where they're not expected causes unpredictable behavior in assistive technologies. Following the ARIA specification ensures that screen readers and other tools can properly interpret and communicate your content's meaning to people with disabilities.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
<a class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-site-header__logo-link" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" aria-label="Home - European Commission" data-aria-label-en="Home - European Commission" data-once="header-logo-click">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
Showing first 5 of 22 audited elements.
ARIA attributes must conform to valid names22 elements
Misspelled or non-existent ARIA attributes cannot perform their intended accessibility function. Assistive technologies rely on correctly spelled, current ARIA attributes to convey proper user interface behaviors and structural information to people with disabilities.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
<a class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-site-header__logo-link" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" aria-label="Home - European Commission" data-aria-label-en="Home - European Commission" data-once="header-logo-click">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
Showing first 5 of 22 audited elements.
ARIA attributes must conform to valid values21 elements
ARIA attributes must contain correctly spelled values that match the attribute's expected options. Invalid values prevent the accessibility feature from working, making content inaccessible to assistive technology users who depend on these attributes for navigation and interaction.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
<a class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-site-header__logo-link" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" aria-label="Home - European Commission" data-aria-label-en="Home - European Commission" data-once="header-logo-click">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
Showing first 5 of 21 audited elements.
ARIA hidden element must not be focusable or contain focusable elements92 elements
Elements with aria-hidden="true" are removed from the accessibility API but remain keyboard-focusable, creating confusion about their visibility state. When users tab to these hidden elements, screen readers stay silent, leaving users unaware of what they've focused on or why nothing is being announced.
Audit Elements
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="wt-icon--l wt-icon--primary" width="48" height="48" fill="currentColor">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="wt-icon--rotate-180 wt-icon--xs wt-globan--arrow" width="48" height="48" fill="currentColor"><path d="m45 30.12-2.73 2.82-18.24-18.36L5.73 33 3 30.18 24.03 9z"></path></svg>
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-button__icon ecl-icon--close" width="48" height="48" fill="currentColor">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--s ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--search" width="48" height="48" role="img" fill="currentColor">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-button__icon ecl-icon--search" width="48" height="48" fill="currentColor">
Showing first 5 of 92 audited elements.
ARIA role should be appropriate for the element19 elements
Invalid ARIA role and HTML element combinations can break accessibility for entire sections of your application. When roles are used incorrectly, assistive technologies may report confusing or nonsensical information to users, making it impossible for them to understand and interact with the interface properly.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
<div class="ecl-site-header__language-container" id="language-list-overlay" hidden="" data-ecl-language-list-overlay="" aria-labelledby="ecl-site-header__language-title" role="dialog">
<div class="ecl-site-header__search-container" role="search">
Showing first 5 of 19 audited elements.
ARIA roles used must conform to valid values7 elements
Invalid ARIA role values prevent assistive technologies from understanding and communicating the element's purpose to users. Without valid roles, screen readers cannot provide information about the element's features, properties, or how users should interact with it.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
<div class="ecl-site-header__search-container" role="search">
<form class="ecl-search-form ecl-site-header__search" role="search" data-drupal-selector="oe-search-search-form" action="/index_en" method="post" id="oe-search-search-form" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-ecl-search-form="">
Showing first 5 of 7 audited elements.
aria-hidden="true" must not be present on the document body1 element
Setting <body aria-hidden="true" hides all page content from assistive technologies while leaving it visible on screen. This creates a confusing experience where keyboard users can still tab to elements, but screen readers remain completely silent, providing no information about what's focused.
Audit Elements
<body data-ecl-auto-init="Tooltip" class="language-en ecl-typography path-frontpage page-node-type-landing-page" data-ecl-auto-initialized="true">
Banner landmark should not be contained in another landmark1 element
Banner landmarks must be top-level to effectively designate the header portion of the page. Nested banner landmarks fail to provide the structural information screen reader users need to navigate efficiently through the page layout.
Audit Elements
<header class="ecl-site-header ecl-site-header-with-logo-l ecl-site-header--has-menu" data-ecl-auto-init="SiteHeader" data-ecl-auto-initialized="true">
Buttons must have discernible text9 elements
Screen reader users cannot determine the purpose of buttons without an accessible name. Without a name, users don't know what action the button will perform when activated.
Audit Elements
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
<button class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-search-form__button ecl-search-form__button ecl-button--icon-only" type="submit">
<button class="ecl-button ecl-button--primary ecl-mega-menu__link" type="button" data-ecl-mega-menu-link="" id="ecl-mega-menu-item-ecl-mega-menu-1294856168-1-link" aria-expanded="false">
<button class="ecl-button ecl-button--primary ecl-mega-menu__link" type="button" data-ecl-mega-menu-link="" id="ecl-mega-menu-item-ecl-mega-menu-1294856168-2-link" aria-expanded="false">
<button class="ecl-button ecl-button--primary ecl-mega-menu__link" type="button" data-ecl-mega-menu-link="" id="ecl-mega-menu-item-ecl-mega-menu-1294856168-3-link" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 9 audited elements.
Content must reflow without two-dimensional scrolling0 elements
People who zoom to 400% or use a narrow viewport must be able to scroll in one direction only. A layout that still requires horizontal scrolling at 320 CSS pixels forces magnified readers to pan left and right line by line, which makes the page close to unusable.
Contentinfo landmark should not be contained in another landmark1 element
The contentinfo landmark must be at the top level to help screen reader users quickly navigate to footer information. When nested inside another landmark, it becomes harder to find, defeating its purpose of providing quick access to content information.
Audit Elements
<footer class="ecl-site-footer" data-logo-area-label-en="Home - European Commission">
Deprecated ARIA roles must not be used7 elements
Deprecated ARIA roles are not recognized by modern screen readers and assistive technologies. Using outdated roles means some users cannot access essential information or functionality on your site.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
<div class="ecl-site-header__search-container" role="search">
<form class="ecl-search-form ecl-site-header__search" role="search" data-drupal-selector="oe-search-search-form" action="/index_en" method="post" id="oe-search-search-form" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-ecl-search-form="">
Showing first 5 of 7 audited elements.
Document should have one main landmark1 element
Every page should have exactly one main landmark that identifies the primary content. Without a main landmark, screen reader users must navigate through all content linearly to find what they're looking for, making page navigation difficult and time-consuming.
Audit Elements
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#" class="js hydrated">
Document should not have more than one banner landmark1 element
Multiple banner landmarks force screen reader users to sort through duplicate options to find header information. Each page should have only one banner landmark to enable quick, predictable navigation to the header without overwhelming users with unnecessary choices.
Audit Elements
<header class="ecl-site-header ecl-site-header-with-logo-l ecl-site-header--has-menu" data-ecl-auto-init="SiteHeader" data-ecl-auto-initialized="true">
Document should not have more than one contentinfo landmark1 element
Multiple contentinfo landmarks force screen reader users to sort through extra options to find footer information. Each page should have only one content info landmark to enable quick, predictable navigation without overwhelming users with duplicate structural markers.
Audit Elements
<footer class="ecl-site-footer" data-logo-area-label-en="Home - European Commission">
Document should not have more than one main landmark1 element
Multiple main landmarks confuse screen reader users about where the primary content is located. Each page should have only one main landmark so users can quickly and predictably navigate to the primary content area.
Audit Elements
<main class="ecl-u-pb-xl" id="main-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2.ecl-u-type-heading-2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading, div.ecl-quiz__title">
Documents must have <title> element to aid in navigation1 element
The page title is the first thing screen reader users hear when loading a page. Without a descriptive, unique title, users must read through the entire page to understand its contents and purpose, wasting valuable time on every page visit.
Audit Elements
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#" class="js hydrated">
Elements marked as presentational should be consistently ignored14 elements
Elements with role="none" or role="presentation" should be removed from the accessibility tree. Adding global ARIA attributes or making these elements focusable prevents their removal, leaving them accessible to screen readers when they should be ignored, creating unexpected and confusing behavior.
Audit Elements
<img src="https://webtools.europa.eu/images/flags/eu.svg" class="wt-img--flags wt-icon--m wt-globan--flag" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="">
<img class="ecl-banner__image" src="/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_full_width_banner_4_1/public/2025-11/GettyImages-1345022057.jpg.webp?h=0c55f364&itok=3ZFBpNWr" alt="">
<img class="ecl-card__image" src="/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2024-09/Introduction_image.jpg?h=ef1d7280&itok=8CWaEy8m" alt="">
<img class="ecl-card__image" src="/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2026-02/Defence-and-security.jpg?h=c3635fa2&itok=JQVPaoWQ" alt="">
<img class="ecl-card__image" src="/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/public/2024-10/MicrosoftTeams-image%20%2817%29.png?h=a2b6dbaf&itok=yj_yPk_4" alt="">
Showing first 5 of 14 audited elements.
Elements must meet minimum color contrast ratio thresholds95 elements
People with low vision or color blindness cannot read text that lacks sufficient contrast with its background. With nearly three times more people having low vision than total blindness, and 8% of men and 0.4% of women having color deficiencies, adequate contrast is essential for making text readable to millions of users.
Audit Elements
<a href="https://commission.europa.eu/cookies-policy_en" target="_self" class="wt-ecl-link">cookies policy page</a>
<a href="#accept" class="wt-ecl-link wt-ecl-link--primary wt-cck--actions-button">Accept all cookies</a>
<a href="#refuse" class="wt-ecl-link wt-ecl-link--primary wt-cck--actions-button">Accept only essential cookies</a>
<span class="wt-globan--text-long">An official website of the European Union</span>
<span class="wt-globan--button-text">How do you know?</span>
Showing first 5 of 95 audited elements.
Elements must only use permitted ARIA attributes22 elements
Using prohibited ARIA attributes prevents important information from reaching assistive technology users. It also causes assistive technologies to behave inconsistently as they attempt to compensate for the error.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
<a class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-site-header__logo-link" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" aria-label="Home - European Commission" data-aria-label-en="Home - European Commission" data-once="header-logo-click">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
Showing first 5 of 22 audited elements.
Elements must only use supported ARIA attributes22 elements
Using ARIA attributes in roles where they're not allowed can disable accessibility for entire sections of your application. Invalid attribute-role combinations create conflicts that cause assistive technologies to report incorrect or nonsensical information about your interface.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
<a class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-site-header__logo-link" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" aria-label="Home - European Commission" data-aria-label-en="Home - European Commission" data-once="header-logo-click">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
Showing first 5 of 22 audited elements.
Focused elements must not be entirely hidden by author-created content42 elements
Keyboard users have no pointer to show where they are. The focus indicator is their only cue, and a sticky header, footer, cookie banner, or other author-created overlay that completely hides the focused control strands them with no idea what will activate next.
Audit Elements
<a href="#main-content" class="ecl-link ecl-link--primary ecl-skip-link" id="skip-id">
<a href="https://commission.europa.eu/cookies-policy_en" target="_self" class="wt-ecl-link">
<a href="#accept" class="wt-ecl-link wt-ecl-link--primary wt-cck--actions-b...">
<a href="#refuse" class="wt-ecl-link wt-ecl-link--primary wt-cck--actions-b...">
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 42 audited elements.
Form elements must have labels1 element
Form labels are essential for screen reader users to understand what information each field requires. Without proper labels, screen readers cannot identify input expectations, fields don't receive focus when announced, and users with motor impairments lose the benefit of larger clickable areas that labels provide.
Audit Elements
<input id="edit-keys" class="ecl-text-input ecl-text-input--m ecl-search-form__text-input form-search ecl-search-form__text-input" name="keys" type="search">
Form elements should have a visible label1 element
The title and aria-describedby attributes provide supplementary hints, not labels. Screen readers treat these as advisory information rather than true labels, which prevents them from properly conveying the form element's purpose. Form fields need proper labels that can be programmatically determined.
Audit Elements
<input id="edit-keys" class="ecl-text-input ecl-text-input--m ecl-search-form__text-input form-search ecl-search-form__text-input" name="keys" type="search">
Form field must not have multiple label elements1 element
Multiple labels on the same form field cause inconsistent behavior across screen reader and browser combinations. Some will read the first label, others the last, and some will read both, creating confusion about what information the field requires.
Audit Elements
<input id="edit-keys" class="ecl-text-input ecl-text-input--m ecl-search-form__text-input form-search ecl-search-form__text-input" name="keys" type="search">
Heading levels should only increase by one7 elements
Headings convey page structure for screen reader users the same way text size does for sighted users. Properly ordered headings (h1 through h6) allow screen reader users to quickly navigate and understand content structure, saving significant time and frustration while also improving search engine optimization.
Audit Elements
<h1 class="ecl-page-header__title ecl-page-header__title--hidden"><span>Homepage</span></h1>
<h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">News</h2>
<h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Agenda</h2>
<h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">
Focus on the State of the Union
</h2><h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">In focus</h2>
Showing first 5 of 7 audited elements.
Headings should not be empty7 elements
Screen readers announce headings to help users navigate page structure. Empty headings confuse users and prevent them from understanding the page's organization. Headings should only be used to convey structure, not for visual styling, and must contain accessible text that screen readers can announce.
Audit Elements
<h1 class="ecl-page-header__title ecl-page-header__title--hidden"><span>Homepage</span></h1>
<h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">News</h2>
<h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">Agenda</h2>
<h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">
Focus on the State of the Union
</h2><h2 class="ecl-u-type-heading-2">In focus</h2>
Showing first 5 of 7 audited elements.
IDs used in ARIA and labels must be unique64 elements
Duplicate IDs break the accessibility of ARIA elements, form labels, and table headers. When IDs are duplicated, assistive technologies and scripts only reference the first instance, causing subsequent elements with the same ID to be ignored or incorrectly associated.
Audit Elements
<div id="_Gy3zyftdva1" class="wt-globan--dropdown" hidden="">
<title id="title_bw69xxzm6us">en</title>
<div class="ecl-site-header__language-container" id="language-list-overlay" hidden="" data-ecl-language-list-overlay="" aria-labelledby="ecl-site-header__language-title" role="dialog">
<div class="ecl-site-header__language-title" id="ecl-site-header__language-title">Select your language</div>
<input id="edit-keys" class="ecl-text-input ecl-text-input--m ecl-search-form__text-input form-search ecl-search-form__text-input" name="keys" type="search">
Showing first 5 of 64 audited elements.
Images must have alternative text22 elements
Screen readers cannot translate images into text without alt attributes. Alternative text is essential for blind users and beneficial for users with low vision or color blindness, providing the same information that sighted users get from viewing the image.
Audit Elements
<img src="https://webtools.europa.eu/images/flags/eu.svg" class="wt-img--flags wt-icon--m wt-globan--flag" loading="lazy" decoding="async" alt="">
<img class="ecl-site-header__logo-image ecl-site-header__logo-image--l" src="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/logo/logo-ec--mute.svg" alt="European Commission logo">
<img class="ecl-banner__image" src="/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_full_width_banner_4_1/public/2025-11/GettyImages-1345022057.jpg.webp?h=0c55f364&itok=3ZFBpNWr" alt="">
<img class="ecl-content-item__image" src="https://commission.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-070386/00-02.jpg?itok=auEKeFjU" alt="Visit of Mark Rutte, Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), to the European Commission">
<img class="ecl-content-item__image" src="https://commission.europa.eu/sites/default/files/styles/oe_theme_ratio_3_2_medium/avportal/P-070336/00-05.jpg?itok=75UIilgx" alt="The Berlaymont illuminated with Ukrainian flag's colours">
Showing first 5 of 22 audited elements.
Inline text spacing must be adjustable with custom stylesheets14 elements
Single-spaced text makes it difficult for people with cognitive disabilities to track lines while reading. Providing line spacing between 1.5 to 2 helps these users start a new line more easily after finishing the previous one.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-globan--container" id="globan" style="z-index: 40;">
<section class="ecl-banner ecl-banne..." id="ecl-banner-782185880" data-ecl-banner="" data-ecl-auto-init="Banner" data-ecl-auto-initia...="true" style="aspect-ratio: auto; ...">
<picture class="ecl-picture ecl-picture--zoom ecl-content-item__picture ecl-content-item__picture--large ecl-content-item__picture--top" data-ecl-picture-link="" style="cursor: pointer;">
<picture class="ecl-picture ecl-picture--zoom ecl-content-item__picture ecl-content-item__picture--large ecl-content-item__picture--top" data-ecl-picture-link="" style="cursor: pointer;">
<picture class="ecl-picture ecl-picture--zoom ecl-content-item__picture ecl-content-item__picture--large ecl-content-item__picture--top" data-ecl-picture-link="" style="cursor: pointer;">
Showing first 5 of 14 audited elements.
Interactive controls must not be nested20 elements
Nested interactive elements create empty tab stops where screen readers remain silent. When users tab to a focusable element inside another interactive control, they receive no information about its name, role, or state, creating a confusing and broken navigation experience.
Audit Elements
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
<img class="ecl-site-header__logo-image ecl-site-header__logo-image--l" src="/themes/contrib/oe_theme/dist/ec/images/logo/logo-ec--mute.svg" alt="European Commission logo">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
<button class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-search-form__button ecl-search-form__button ecl-button--icon-only" type="submit">
Showing first 5 of 20 audited elements.
Interactive elements must have a visible focus indicator50 elements
Sighted keyboard users rely on a visible focus indicator to know where they are on the page. When focus styles are missing, too subtle, or have insufficient contrast against the surrounding colors, users cannot tell which element will respond when they press Enter or Space, making keyboard navigation slow and error-prone. This especially affects people with motor impairments who cannot use a mouse and people with low vision who need clear, high-contrast indicators.
Audit Elements
<a href="#main-content" class="ecl-link ecl-link--primary ecl-skip-link" id="skip-id">
<a href="https://commission.europa.eu/cookies-policy_en" target="_self" class="wt-ecl-link">
<a href="#accept" class="wt-ecl-link wt-ecl-link--primary wt-cck--actions-b...">
<a href="#refuse" class="wt-ecl-link wt-ecl-link--primary wt-cck--actions-b...">
<button class="wt-globan--button" aria-controls="_Gy3zyftdva1" aria-expanded="false">
Showing first 5 of 50 audited elements.
Landmarks should have a unique role or role/label/title (i.e. accessible name) combination5 elements
Each landmark on a page must have either a unique role or a unique accessible name. Duplicate landmarks confuse screen reader users about which section they're navigating to, making it difficult to efficiently move through the page structure.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<header class="ecl-site-header ecl-site-header-with-logo-l ecl-site-header--has-menu" data-ecl-auto-init="SiteHeader" data-ecl-auto-initialized="true">
<nav class="ecl-mega-menu" data-ecl-mega-menu="" data-ecl-auto-init="MegaMenu" data-ecl-mega-menu-label-open="Menu" data-ecl-mega-menu-label-close="Close" role="navigation" id="ecl-mega-menu-1294856168" aria-label="Site navigation" data-ecl-auto-initialized="true">
<main class="ecl-u-pb-xl" id="main-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2.ecl-u-type-heading-2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading, div.ecl-quiz__title">
<footer class="ecl-site-footer" data-logo-area-label-en="Home - European Commission">
Links must be distinguishable without relying on color1 element
People with low vision or color blindness cannot visually distinguish links from surrounding text without sufficient color contrast (3:1 ratio minimum). When link colors are too similar to regular text, users with visual impairments cannot identify which text is clickable.
Audit Elements
<a href="https://commission.europa.eu/cookies-policy_en" target="_self" class="wt-ecl-link">cookies policy page</a>
Links must have discernible text50 elements
Keyboard users and screen reader users can only interact with links that have accessible names and can receive focus. Without proper names, users don't know where links lead. Without keyboard focus, users who cannot use a mouse cannot activate the links at all.
Audit Elements
<a href="#main-content" class="ecl-link ecl-link--primary ecl-skip-link" id="skip-id">Skip to main content</a>
<a href="https://commission.europa.eu/cookies-policy_en" target="_self" class="wt-ecl-link">cookies policy page</a>
<a href="#accept" class="wt-ecl-link wt-ecl-link--primary wt-cck--actions-button">Accept all cookies</a>
<a href="#refuse" class="wt-ecl-link wt-ecl-link--primary wt-cck--actions-button">Accept only essential cookies</a>
<a class="ecl-link ecl-link--standalone ecl-site-header__logo-link" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" aria-label="Home - European Commission" data-aria-label-en="Home - European Commission" data-once="header-logo-click">
Showing first 5 of 50 audited elements.
Main landmark should not be contained in another landmark1 element
The main landmark must be at the top level and not nested inside other landmarks. This ensures screen reader users can quickly navigate to the primary content without searching through complex hierarchy, making page navigation simpler and more predictable.
Audit Elements
<main class="ecl-u-pb-xl" id="main-content" data-inpage-navigation-source-area="h2.ecl-u-type-heading-2, div.ecl-featured-item__heading, div.ecl-quiz__title">
Page must have means to bypass repeated blocks1 element
Keyboard-only users must tab through all navigation and header content before reaching the main content, which can take several minutes and cause physical pain for users with motor limitations. Bypass mechanisms like skip links allow these users to jump directly to main content, saving time and reducing fatigue.
Audit Elements
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#" class="js hydrated">
Page should contain a level-one heading1 element
Screen reader users use keyboard shortcuts to jump directly to the first h1, expecting to land at the main content. Without an h1 or with a misplaced one, users must listen to more of the page to understand its structure, wasting valuable time on every page visit.
Audit Elements
<html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#" class="js hydrated">
Required ARIA attributes must be provided7 elements
ARIA widget roles need required attributes to describe their current state. Without these attributes, screen readers cannot communicate essential information like whether a checkbox is checked or a slider's current value, leaving users unable to interact effectively with the widget.
Audit Elements
<div data-nosnippet="true" class="wt-cck--banner" id="cookie-consent-banner" role="region" aria-label="Cookies policy">
<a class="ecl-button ecl-button--tertiary ecl-button--neutral ecl-site-header__language-selector" href="https://commission.europa.eu/index_en" data-ecl-language-selector="" role="button" aria-label="Change language, current language is English - en" aria-controls="language-list-overlay">
<svg viewBox="0 0 48 48" focusable="false" xmlns="xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="ecl-icon ecl-icon--m ecl-site-header__icon ecl-icon--global" width="48" height="48" title="en" role="img" aria-labelledby="title_bw69xxzm6us" fill="currentColor">
<div class="ecl-site-header__search-container" role="search">
<form class="ecl-search-form ecl-site-header__search" role="search" data-drupal-selector="oe-search-search-form" action="/index_en" method="post" id="oe-search-search-form" accept-charset="UTF-8" data-ecl-search-form="">
Showing first 5 of 7 audited elements.
Text must remain readable when spacing is increased0 elements
People with low vision and dyslexia increase line height, letter spacing, word spacing, and paragraph spacing so they can read. Fixed-height boxes and overflow: hidden containers clip or overlap that text, which is a loss of content under WCAG 1.4.12.
Users should be able to zoom and scale the text up to 500%1 element
The user-scalable="no" and restrictive maximum-scale parameters prevent people with low vision from zooming to read content. Users who rely on browser zoom to enlarge text are blocked from accessing content at a readable size, violating their need to scale pages up to 5x zoom.
Audit Elements
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
Zooming and scaling must not be disabled1 element
Setting user-scalable="no" or maximum-scale less than 2 prevents people with low vision from zooming to read content. Users who enlarge text in their browsers are blocked from making content readable, violating accessibility guidelines that require supporting at least 200% zoom.
Audit Elements
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
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