The European Central Bank has signed a collaboration agreement with the ONCE Foundation for Cooperation and Social Inclusion of People with Disabilities to help ensure the digital euro app is easy to use and accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities, older adults and those with limited digital skills. The ONCE Foundation will support the work by providing technical advice on accessibility requirements and features, collaborating on the app’s design, and testing accessibility of app functionalities once the first prototypes are available. The collaboration is intended to embed an “accessibility by design” approach and to enhance accessibility beyond minimum legal requirements under the European Accessibility Act and standard market practice, with outcomes that could also inform user experience requirements for payment service providers. Accessibility testing will begin when the first app prototypes are ready, with the ECB also continuing to involve the public through activities such as focus groups and market-participant work on digital euro features and onboarding options.
European Central Bank 2026-02-18
European Central Bank signs collaboration with ONCE Foundation to design and test an accessible digital euro app
The European Central Bank has partnered with the ONCE Foundation to ensure the digital euro app is accessible to all, including people with disabilities and those with limited digital skills. The ONCE Foundation will provide technical advice and collaborate on the app's design and accessibility testing. This initiative aims to exceed the European Accessibility Act's requirements and enhance user experience for payment service providers.