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Good practice Imported

MCA-FITA Web Accessibility Monitoring — Malta's In-Depth Reviews Average Just 50%

Malta · Floriana · See the Malta profile

Evidence: Observational / pre–post Top 30% 88/100 · Ask Evidence Copilot about this practice

Malta's Communications Authority, assisted by FITA, audits public-sector sites and apps under the EU Web Accessibility Directive. Its 2022-2024 report found an average in-depth score of 50% for websites and 60% for apps, with colour contrast the most common failure (94%).

319 sites/apps
Websites and apps monitored (2022-2024)
256 websites
Websites monitored via simplified method (2022-2024)
50 %
Average In-Depth accessibility score (websites) (2022-2024)
60 %
Average In-Depth accessibility score (apps) (2022-2024)
94 %
Colour contrast failure rate (non-compliant sites) (2022-2024)
87 %
Name/Role/Value failure rate (2022-2024)
86 %
Link Purpose in Context failure rate (2022-2024)
74 %
Link Purpose out of Context failure rate (2022-2024)
7 %
Sites with fully compliant accessibility statement (2022-2024)
56 %
Sites with no accessibility statement (2022-2024)

Details

Maturity
Established
Promoter
Malta Communications Authority (MCA) & Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA)
Period
2022-2025
Region (NUTS)
MT00
Keywords
public sector, e-government, telecommunications regulation, disability rights, ICT

Context

The Malta Communications Authority (MCA) is the body designated to monitor and enforce public-sector compliance with the EU Web Accessibility Directive (2016/2102), operating with support from FITA (Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility) since 2019; the MCA-FITA collaboration was renewed for a further three years in March 2025.

Objectives

The programme aims to measure and improve the accessibility of Maltese public-sector websites and apps, combining standard checks with testers' own lived experience of disability.

Activities

The 2022-2024 monitoring period covered 319 websites and mobile applications, with 256 websites monitored via a simplified method and a smaller subset undergoing In-Depth review; MCA also partnered with the University of Malta and the eSkills Malta Foundation to train public-body ICT officials.

Results

The average In-Depth accessibility score was 50% for websites and 60% for apps (report published 16 December 2024). Among non-compliant websites, colour contrast (WCAG 1.4.3) was the most common failure (94%), followed by Name/Role/Value (87%), Link Purpose in Context (86%) and Link Purpose out of context (74%); only 7% of assessed sites had a fully compliant accessibility statement, and 56% had none at all.

Conclusions

MCA's report attributes part of the period's score decline to its own scoring-methodology revisions and a new shared-hosting platform rollout rather than claiming unambiguous improvement; the small national sample, reflecting Malta's population of ~530,000, limits comparability with larger member states.

Implementation
Indicative cost
Medium (€50k–€500k) — Cost not itemised in source; delivered through the MCA-FITA operating agreement (renewed 2025-2028) plus a university/eSkills training partnership.
Time to results
Long (> 3 years) — Recurring statutory monitoring function since 2019; 2022-2024 report published 16 December 2024, next cycle running under agreement to 2028.
Staffing & skills
Malta Communications Authority (MCA) -- designated regulator, Foundation for Information Technology Accessibility (FITA) -- operational testing support, including testers with lived disability experience, University of Malta and eSkills Malta Foundation -- training partners for ICT officials

Conditions for success

  • Operating agreement between MCA and FITA (renewed for a further three years, 2025-2028)
  • In-Depth review methodology incorporating testers' own lived experience of disability, beyond automated/manual checks alone
  • Capacity-building partnership with the University of Malta and eSkills Malta Foundation to train public-body ICT officials

Common failure modes

  • MCA's own report attributes part of the period's score decline to its own scoring-methodology revisions and a new shared-hosting platform rollout, not necessarily to worsening accessibility
  • Small national sample size (Malta's population ~530,000) limits generalisability relative to larger member states
  • Only 7% of assessed sites carried a fully compliant accessibility statement; 56% had none at all

Where it fits

Governance type
national regulator (statutory EU Web Accessibility Directive monitoring body)
Scale
national (Malta)
Income level
high-income

Commonly funded by

Digital Europe Programme CERV — Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values

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Data sources

Where this practice's information was retrieved from, and when.

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