European Accessibility Act 2025: How to prepare

Millions of people across Europe rely on digital products for everyday tasks, from online shopping to managing finances and staying in touch with others.

Yet many websites and apps fail to provide products and services that are accessible to all, regardless of abilities and circumstances.

The European Accessibility Act is set to take effect on 28 June 2025, establishing legal requirements for businesses to ensure their digital products and services are accessible and user-friendly to everyone.

What does this mean for your business and how can you comply to avoid hefty penalties?

Keep reading to find out!

What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a legal directive for making digital products and services more accessible across the European Union.

The act serves as the minimum reference point for companies, and many countries in the EU (like Germany, Italy, France) have national accessibility laws that apply. Still, the EAA introduces a unified framework, making compliance clearer for businesses operating across multiple sectors.

The EAA aims to:

• Ensure that digital and physical products are accessible to all, including people with disabilities, elderly people, people with temporary impairments or those with situational disabilities.
• Create a single EU-wide standard, reducing legal fragmentation.
• Encourage businesses to innovate and implement inclusive design.

It’s important to note that this act doesn’t introduce entirely new requirements. Instead, it builds on already established accessibility frameworks, including:

• WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) - A widely recognized standard for web and mobile accessibility.
• EN 301 549 - A European standard for ICT (Information and Communication Technology) products, including software and hardware.

The EAA was first passed in 2019, and by 28 June 2025 all companies that fall under the EAA must be compliant.

Who needs to comply?

The EAA applies to companies with more than 10 employees and annual revenue over €2 million. Businesses that provide digital services or products within the EU also fall under the EAA, regardless of whether they are based in the EU.

This means that companies based in the UK, the US, or other non-EU countries that operate in the EU market will need to ensure their platforms meet accessibility standards.

The EAA covers a wide range of businesses and industries. Key sectors that need to comply include:

• E-commerce: Online retailers, marketplaces, and digital platforms that facilitate online transactions.
• Financial services & banking: Online banking platforms, ATMs, and payment services.
• Telecommunications: Companies offering internet, mobile, and digital communication services.
• Transport & travel: Platforms and apps for booking flights, train tickets, and public transport.
• Media & entertainment: Streaming services, digital broadcasting, and online content platforms.
• Public sector: Government websites and digital services for citizens.
• Software development companies: Agencies that create digital products for businesses covered under the EAA.

Why does the EAA matter?

According to the European Council, 101 million people in the EU live with some form of disability. The EAA is not just about legal compliance - it’s about creating a more inclusive digital environment.

When we think about accessibility, we often consider permanent disabilities such as hearing or vision loss, limb loss, brain injury, etc., but accessible design also benefits those with temporary and situational disabilities.

Temporary disabilities (e.g., a broken arm or recovering from eye surgery) can limit a person’s ability to interact with digital products for a short period.

Situational disabilities occur due to environmental factors, for example, trying to read a screen in bright sunlight or needing captions in a noisy room.

The EAA ensures that digital products and services are designed inclusively, so they work not just for those with lifelong disabilities but for anyone who might face accessibility barriers, even temporarily, as well as elderly users and users in low-bandwidth environments.

When put into perspective, this makes up for quite a big chunk of the market. If you’re not accommodating all those user groups yet, you’re probably missing out on market share.

What’s more, failing to meet accessibility requirements may result in a hefty fine. The Spanish airline Vueling was ordered to pay €90,000 for having a non-compliant website.

By implementing accessibility best practices, companies can avoid legal risks, improve user satisfaction, and expand their customer base. Accessible digital products are more flexible and user-friendly for everyone, improving usability, user experience and SEO rankings.

As the June 2025 deadline approaches, businesses need to assess their current accessibility compliance and make the necessary adjustments to align with key requirements.

Key accessibility requirements for digital products

Digital content should be structured to accommodate users with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities. As per the WCAG 2.2, businesses covered under the EAA must ensure their websites and digital products are:

✅ Perceivable:

• Provide alternative text for images, icons, and other non-text elements.
• Use high-contrast color schemes and adjustable text fonts and size.
• Ensure video and audio content includes captions, transcripts, and descriptions.

✅ Operable:

• Ensure all functionalities can be accessed via keyboard navigation (not just a mouse or touchscreen).
• Avoid elements that rely on time-sensitive interactions or provide alternatives for users who need more time to complete tasks.
• Implement voice commands and other alternative input methods.

✅ Understandable:

• Use clear, simple language and structured layouts.
• Ensure form inputs and error messages provide helpful guidance.
• Make interactive elements predictable and avoid unexpected behavior.

✅ Robust:

• Ensure compatibility with screen readers, voice recognition software, and Braille displays.
• Follow best practices for responsive design, ensuring accessibility across different devices and screen sizes.

Elements that may be hurting accessibility without you realising

• CAPTCHAs - Image-based CAPTCHAs exclude blind users or those with visual impairments. Make sure to provide an audio or text option for verification.
• Overuse of animations and auto-playing content - Users with cognitive disabilities may struggle with distractions. Allow users to pause or disable animations.
• Third-party plugins & widgets - Chatbots, review widgets, and pop-ups often lack accessibility, even if the main platform is compliant.
• Automatically generated captions - These may be inaccurate and unclear.
• Generic alt text for images - Try to be as descriptive as possible when writing alternative text. For example, “running shoes” is not very helpful, but “red running shoes with cushioned sole for high-impact exercises” tells another story.
• PDFs & documents - Many businesses publish reports, invoices, and guides as inaccessible PDFs that screen readers cannot read.

How to prepare for the EAA 2025 deadline

The 28 June 2025 deadline is fast approaching, and businesses that have not taken action yet need to do so as soon as possible to avoid getting penalties. Here’s what you need to do to get started:

1. Conduct an accessibility audit

The first step is performing a comprehensive accessibility audit. An accessibility audit will help you identify barriers in your system that might be preventing users with disabilities from accessing your content.

You can use tools like Lighthouse to flag common problems. However, automated tools are not enough. We recommend manually testing your platforms as well. Test your site with a screen reader, try navigating it without a mouse and consider testing with real users.

📋 Here’s a simple checklist to use as a starting point:

✅ Keyboard navigation - Can users navigate the whole platform without a mouse?

✅ Screen reader support - Are all elements labeled clearly for screen reader users?

✅ Legible text - Does text remain clear and readable when resized or zoomed?

✅ Alternative content - Do all images, videos, and audio content have accessible alternatives?

✅ Forms & errors - Are forms & error messages clear, descriptive, and screen reader friendly?

✅ Accessible security measures - Do login systems offer alternatives to CAPTCHA?

✅ Assistive technology testing - Have you tested with screen readers, voice controls, and zoom functions?

Don’t forget to review all plugins and third-party services.

2. Plan & fix accessibility issues

Now that you have a list of issues, it’s time to prioritize and fix them. Not everything needs to be done at once, but some fixes (such as keyboard navigation and alt text) are low-hanging fruit that can dramatically improve accessibility quickly.

Start by prioritising critical issues first, such as core user journeys (e.g., checkout pages, login forms, customer support portals, etc). Then, continue with gradual accessibility improvements instead of a full overhaul.

📌 Other tips to help you with this process:

• Work accessibility into your development process so new features don’t introduce more problems.
• Get designers and developers involved early. Making something accessible from the start is way easier than fixing it later.
• Consider consulting an accessibility expert if your platform is large or complex.

3. Create & publish an accessibility statement

An accessibility statement is a public document on your website that clearly outlines your commitment to accessibility, how accessible your platform is, known limitations, what steps you’re taking to improve accessibility, and how users can provide feedback.

This is required under the EAA, and it’s also a great way to show customers you care about inclusion.

📝 What to include in your accessibility statement:

• A clear commitment statement to accessibility.
• Current compliance status.
• Known accessibility issues (if there are still things you’re working on).
• How users can report problems (email, contact form, or a dedicated helpdesk).
• A timeline for fixes if your platform isn’t fully compliant yet.

Here’s an example of the EU website’s accessibility statement.

4. Educate and train your team

Accessibility shouldn’t just fall on one person’s shoulders, it’s a company-wide responsibility. That means getting everyone on your team, including developers, designers and project managers, up to speed.

Consider organising training sessions and workshops on inclusive design and accessibility best practices. Make sure you provide enough tools and resources for your team to learn about accessibility.

The more your team understands accessibility, the easier it will be to maintain compliance in the long term.

5. Provide feedback channels

Even if you think you’ve done everything according to standard, users might still run into unexpected issues. Make it easy for them to tell you by providing multiple ways to report issues and send feedback - phone, email, chat, etc. Also, make sure your customer support team is properly trained and knows how to assist people with disabilities.

📌 Pro tip: If you have live chat support, make sure it works with screen readers and doesn’t time out too quickly.

Key takeaway: Act now, rather than later

The EEA deadline is not so far away now, and accessibility improvements take time, especially for larger and more complex systems. The sooner you start, the easier and more cost-effective it will be.

🚀 Here’s your action plan:

• Run an accessibility audit.
• Fix high-priority issues first.
• Train your team on accessibility best practices.
• Publish an accessibility statement so users know you’re committed.
• Provide feedback channels and continuously improve based on real user experiences.

By making accessibility a priority now, you’ll not only comply with the EAA but also create a better experience for everyone. That’s a win-win.