What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) is an EU directive that aims to improve the internal market for accessible products and services by removing barriers created by divergent rules in Member States.
The Deadline Has Passed
The EAA's compliance deadline was June 28, 2025. As of that date, all covered products and services placed on the EU market are legally required to be accessible, and enforcement by national authorities is already active. If your product or service isn't yet compliant, you're already out of step with the law. The priority now is to fix the gaps as quickly as possible, not to wait for a future date.
Who Does the EAA Apply To?
The EAA applies to a wide range of digital products and services, including:
- E-commerce websites and apps
- Banking services
- E-books and dedicated software
- Transportation services (air, bus, rail, water)
- Computers and operating systems
- Smartphones and telecommunications equipment
It applies to any company selling to EU consumers, regardless of where the company is headquartered (e.g., a US-based e-commerce site selling to France must comply).
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Unlike the ADA, which is primarily enforced through civil lawsuits, the EAA is enforced by national authorities in EU member states (enforcement began 28 June 2025). Penalties can include significant fines and, more severely, the removal of your product or service from the EU market.
How to Prepare
- Audit your digital assets: Conduct a comprehensive WCAG 2.2 AA audit.
- Remediate issues: Fix identified barriers in your websites, apps, and documents.
- Integrate accessibility into your lifecycle: Make accessibility part of your design, development, and QA processes.
- Publish an accessibility statement: Document your compliance status.