What is the European Accessibility Act and is your website compliant?

Accessibility is no longer a “nice to have.” With the European Accessibility Act (EAA) coming into force in June 2025, businesses across the EU are now facing legal obligations to make their digital services accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities.

In this practical guide I've decided to wear my lawyer's hat again (yes, I am a trained lawyer, but this is a story for another time..) and break down what the EAA actually is, who it applies to, and what you should do (now) to stay compliant and competitive.

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TL;DR:

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) becomes enforceable in June 2025, requiring businesses in sectors like banking, e-commerce, transport, and digital media to meet WCAG 2.2 Level AA standards. This means accessible websites, apps, and services. Failing to comply could mean fines, legal risk, and missed revenue opportunities. The smart move? Start your compliance plan now.

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What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?

The EAA is an EU directive designed to improve accessibility across digital products and services — especially for people with visual, hearing, motor, or cognitive disabilities.

It’s about giving everyone equal access to essential digital experiences, from online shopping to banking to booking a train ticket.

The directive was adopted in 2019, but the real deadline is June 28, 2025, when it becomes enforceable across all EU member states.

Ps: we have already talked about EEA and accessbility requirements in this post.

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Who needs to comply?

The EAA applies to any company that offers digital services or products in the EU within specific industries, including:

• Banking and financial services
• E-commerce platforms
• Transport services (air, rail, bus, and waterborne)
• Telephony and mobile communications
• Audiovisual media services (like streaming platforms)
• E-books and reading platforms
• Ticketing, check-in, and self-service machines

If your company operates in one of these areas and has a website or app used by EU citizens, this law affects you, whether you’re based in the EU or not.

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5 steps to get your business compliant with EEA

You don’t need to become an accessibility expert overnight — but you do need a plan. Here’s where to start:

1. Audit your website and digital services
   Use automated tools (like accessibilitychecker.org) and manual testing to identify gaps. Check for color contrast, missing alt text, broken navigation, and more.
2. Prioritize critical issues
   Fix low-hanging fruit first — like button sizes, form labels, and keyboard traps. These are usually fast fixes with big impact.
3. Design with accessibility in mind
   Use semantic HTML, avoid relying on color alone to convey meaning, and make sure interactive elements work on all devices.
4. Involve real users
   Test your site with people who use screen readers, keyboard navigation, or other assistive tech. What works on paper might not work in the real world.
5. Document everything
   Keep track of what you’ve done, what you’ve fixed, and what’s still in progress. If you're ever questioned, you’ll have proof that you’ve taken it seriously.

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What does the EAA mean for your team?

To make things easier, we have created a to-do list that makes it easier for each department to understand how to comply with the European Accessibility Act:

• Marketing teams need to ensure that content is readable, videos have captions, emails are accessible, and calls to action work for all users.
• Design teams must follow accessibility best practices around color contrast, touch targets, and interaction design.
• Product and development teams are responsible for implementing WCAG-compliant code, ensuring keyboard navigation works, and fixing technical barriers.
• Legal and compliance should track accessibility obligations, maintain documentation, and ensure the business isn’t exposed to unnecessary risk.
• Customer support teams need to understand accessibility features and be ready to assist users who rely on them.

However, consider that accessibility is a cross-functional responsibility. You want to make sure you treat this like any other compliance requirement: company-wide, well-documented, and owned by leadership.

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What are the EEArequirements in detail?

Under the EAA, affected businesses must ensure their digital services meet the WCAG 2.2 Level AA accessibility standard.

This includes:

• Readable content (clear fonts, good contrast, scalable text)
• Keyboard-friendly navigation (no mouse needed)
• Accessible forms and interactions
• Touch-friendly buttons and links
• Predictable layouts and consistent design
• Support for assistive technologies (like screen readers)

In short: your site or app should be usable by everyone, regardless of ability.

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What happens if you ignore it?

The EAA leaves enforcement and fines to each individual country, but the consequences are real: legal penalties, public complaints, and reputational damage.

More importantly, you risk locking out millions of potential users — and the revenue that comes with them.

In the Netherlands alone, it’s estimated that businesses lose €3.4 billion a year in online sales due to inaccessible websites.

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Need help?

We’re currently offering a free accessibility scan for businesses preparing for the EAA. You’ll get a clear picture of where your site stands and what needs to be fixed.

Get in touch if you want to learn if you're compliant.

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