Explained: The European Accessibility Act
What is the European Accessibility Act?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) was introduced by The European Union (EU) in 2019 with the aim to improve the lives of disabled and older people in the EU by ensuring equal access to selected products and services within the European Union.
The EAA covers a wide range of products and services, including digital products (websites, mobile apps), e-commerce services, consumer banking services, electronic communication services, and certain physical products like ATMs.
The deadline for meeting the EAA is 28 June 2025. From this date, new products and services offered in the EU must be launched as conformant.
The EAA will make life easier for at least 87 million people – almost one in five Europeans have impairments, which includes the ever-growing ageing population and the fact that many of us will experience temporary impairments during our lifetime.
Who does it apply to?
Unlike previous legislation that targeted the Public Sector, the EAA expands obligations to private sector organisations selling products or services to customers living in EU member states.
It applies to ANY businesses:
- with at least 10 staff and a turnover above €2 million.
- that trades in the EU.
- headquartered outside the EU if they sell relevant goods or services within the EU.
The products and services include:
- computers and operating systems
- ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines
- smartphones
- TV equipment related to digital television services
- telephony services and related equipment
- access to audio-visual media services such as television broadcasts and related consumer equipment
- services related to air, bus, rail and waterborne passenger transport
- banking services
- e-books
- e-commerce
What does this mean for you?
This is a significant step towards a more accessible Europe, offering benefits to both businesses and individuals:
Businesses will benefit from:
- Standardised requirements and common rules on accessibility in the EU (which will lead to reduced costs)
- Increased customer base and market opportunities for their accessible products and services
- Drive new innovations
Persons with disabilities and elderly people will benefit from:
- More accessible and socially inclusive products and services in the market and easily usable everyday items and access essential services
- Accessible products and services at more competitive and affordable prices
- Reducing barriers in key areas such as transport, education and employment
- Create new job opportunities in sectors focused on inclusive design and compliance
How is it enforced and what are the penalties?
Businesses operating in the EU, especially those in the private sector, need to start aligning their products and services with the EAA’s standards to avoid penalties. The Act includes provisions for exemptions, primarily for micro-enterprises, and for cases where compliance would impose a disproportionate burden.
Enforcement and monitoring of compliance will be undertaken by designated national authorities in each Member State (country). They will perform compliance checks on services, monitor the market of products, and handle any non-compliance issues. Penalties will be set locally but may include:
- Fines
- Market Restrictions
- Product Withdrawals
- Administrative Sanctions
What compliance is required?
The EAA does not itself define specific technical standards for accessibility. Rather it uses EN 301 549 as its conformity standard, which requires conformance with WCAG version 2.2 AA standards.
To comply with the EAA, providers must design products, devices, services or environments to be used by people with disabilities on equal basis with others. Providers must also publish accessibility statements stating how they meet the Act’s requirements.
Businesses operating in the EU, especially those in the private sector, need to start aligning their products and services with the EAA’s standards to avoid penalties.
How should businesses prepare?
Given the legislation comes into effect on 28th June 2025, there’s no time to delay. Organisations should start preparing and take the following key steps:
- Assess whether any of your products and services fall under the EAA and identify the Accessibility requirements they should meet.
- Conduct an independent accessibility audit against the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) V2.2 for digital content such as websites, web applications, and platforms.
- Create an accessibility statement, including the areas that are compliant and the areas that do not meet the minimum standards, with a clear strategy roadmap to meet the EAA regulations.
- Regular Evaluation and conformance of Accessibility Audits and Statements to keep in line with their ever-changing digital content.