Andonovski urges institutions to adapt websites for people with disabilities by 31 December

Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski urged public institutions to make their websites and mobile applications accessible to all citizens by 31 December this year, speaking at an event in the Assembly on the occasion of International White Cane Day.

What the law requires

The Law on the Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Institutions requires that sites and apps permit operation by keyboard, voice control and assistive devices, that their functions be clear and predictable, and that content be properly processable by assistive technologies. The law also foresees accessible alternatives such as textual descriptions of images, audio descriptions, headings, transcripts and alternative formats.

Andonovski stressed the practical benefits of accessible e‑services for people with visual impairments: "For blind people and people with visual impairment, an accessible electronic service can mean independently reading information, filling out a form, or receiving a document. That means saved time, less need for someone else's help and greater privacy when using personal data," he said.

The minister reminded institutions of further obligations: they must publish an accessibility statement and provide a channel to report problems. "Institutions are obliged to publish an accessibility statement and to enable reporting of problems. This is a significant step, and its value should be felt every time public services are used. Therefore our work continues through monitoring implementation, supporting institutions and cooperating with users," Andonovski said.

Officials from the ministry say follow‑up work will include monitoring compliance, offering technical support to institutions and consulting with users to ensure the changes are effective in daily use. The deadline applies to existing websites and mobile applications across the public sector.

Photo: press material from the event