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European Accessibility Act: What Businesses Need to Know for 2025

The European Accessibility Act deadline is here. Learn what products and services are covered, compliance requirements, and how to prepare your digital presence.

Menno de Vries

Menno de Vries

Founder

10 min read
European Union flags waving in front of a modern office building
European Union flags waving in front of a modern office building

What Is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is landmark EU legislation requiring certain products and services to be accessible to people with disabilities. The compliance deadline was June 28, 2025.

Who Must Comply?

The EAA applies to businesses that:

  • Sell products or services in the EU market
  • Have more than 10 employees OR annual turnover exceeding €2 million
  • Provide covered products or services
  • Covered Products and Services

    Products: Computers, ATMs, smartphones, tablets, e-readers, TV equipment Services: E-commerce, banking, electronic communications, transport, e-books, audio-visual media

    Technical Requirements

    The EAA references the EN 301 549 standard, which aligns with WCAG 2.2 Level AA.

    Key Requirements

  • Text alternatives for images
  • Captions for video content
  • Sufficient color contrast
  • Full keyboard accessibility
  • Skip navigation links
  • Compatible with assistive technologies
  • Practical Compliance Steps

  • Audit your digital properties
  • Prioritize critical issues
  • Remediate and test
  • Document compliance with accessibility statement
  • Maintain ongoing compliance
  • Penalties for Non-Compliance

    Consequences include fines, market withdrawal, public disclosure, and civil litigation.

    Business Benefits

  • Larger market reach (100+ million EU citizens with disabilities)
  • Better SEO
  • Improved user experience
  • Reduced legal risk
  • Conclusion

    The EAA represents a fundamental shift in how businesses must approach digital accessibility. Build accessibility into your ongoing development processes.

    Ready to improve your website's accessibility?

    Start monitoring your website for accessibility issues with AccessibilityMonitor.

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