Have you heard about the European Accessibility Act (EAA)? It’s generating buzz, not just among tech companies but across various industries in Europe.
Adopted in the year 2019, the EAA is going to be implemented fully by June 2025. And the clock is ticking as it’s high time businesses comply with the EAA.
It aims to harmonize and standardize accessibility requirements within the EU and, therefore, opens up the market for most products and services that are intended to be made available.
This piece of legislation has everything to offer e-commerce sites to ATM kiosks because it will reduce barriers for some 135 million people across Europe living with disabilities.
It will also provide a breather to businesses in making their entry into these member states of the EU highly simplified.
And when you run a business in Europe or target customers from the EU, then definitely these requirements would be necessary for you to know about and keep up with.
Let’s break down the knowledge you need to arm yourself with in order to be compliant ahead of the deadline set for 2025.
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The European Accessibility Act is a vital legislation created by the European Union. Its main intent is to improve the accessibility of all persons with a disability in the EU, thus making sure that everyone, regardless of their abilities, can participate in society and the economy.
Purpose and Definition
The European Accessibility Act, or EAA, formally called Directive 2019/882, represents a milestone in the legislative process toward harmonization of accessibility standards between Member States of the EU.
The Act aims primarily to create a market that is inclusive of products and services accessible by persons with disabilities.
As an agreement supporting “design for all” principles, the EAA is geared towards the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The EAA will empower consumers and help companies innovate and reach new markets in the EU.
Key Milestones and Timeline
The EAA, adopted last June 2019, imposed an obligation on member states for the incorporation of the canon into their frameworks by June 2022.
Cross-product and service accessibility standardization on compliance will end by June 28, 2025.
Why the EAA Matters?
The EAA guarantees compliance, but there is more to it than that; it paves the way for a more even ground for everyone. In this way, persons having disabilities will be helped all through life to take part in society and today’s modern technology and services without being obstructed from access.
Equal Access for All
The EAA ensures that individuals with disabilities will have the same services as they can access online shopping, bank services, and public transportation.
The Act is intended to demolish the boundaries that make most of the daily activities, from taking advantage of public parks to not doing anything at all, inaccessible to everyone.
Unified Standards Across the EU
With the EAA, businesses across the EU will adopt a unified standard for accessibility that can help generate solutions despite criteria over distance.
Global Alignment
This EAA also meets those international standards pertaining to accessibility, among them the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD); hence, it is in line with the global trend in inclusiveness.
Achieve EAA Compliance with Ease and Confidence
Pooja Upadhyay
Director Of People Operations & Client Relations
Key Areas Covered by the EAA
The EAA applies to a wide range of products and services, addressing both digital and physical accessibility. Here are some of the critical areas it covers:
Digital Accessibility
WCAG 2.1 Level AA requirements should be implemented on websites, mobile apps, and other digital platforms.
Content must also be accessible to all users, including users with assistive technologies, such as screen readers. Websites must be easy to navigate with text alternatives for images and perceivable, operable, understandable, robust content.
Self-Service Terminals
Self-service machines, which include ATMs, ticket vending machines, kiosks, etc., should be made accessible to people with disabilities.
This may include the addition of audible guidance, clear visibility and readability of interfaces, or even some tactile feedback for access.
Consumer Products and Services
Products and services from mobile phones to banking and e-commerce sites should be created or adjusted according to the accessibility standards to be usable by persons with different disabilities.
Transport Services
Transportation services are covered by the EAA, obliging providers to keep the systems accessible. That means providing audible announcements on a train or bus and making transport hubs accessible to those with mobility impairments.
Is the EAA Relevant to My Business?
It’s most likely that the EAA applies to your business if you’re doing business within the EU or are offering services to EU customers. Compliance becomes essential; therefore, beginning with an audit of all your digital platforms, consumer products, as well as physical infrastructures, is the initial step.
This includes your e-commerce banking and transport industries, as EAA is across such lines. Adopting your products and services to accessibility standards can safeguard your penalty avoidance and can even expand your customer base.
The Impact of the EAA on Businesses
The EAA’s impact on businesses is vast, particularly for those operating in the EU or offering services to EU customers. Adapting to the EAA standards isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s an opportunity to tap into a larger, more inclusive market.
Compliance Expectations for EU and UK Businesses
Until 2025, all EU businesses (and those whose business dealings involve EU countries) will have to comply with the accessibility requirements of the EAA. This will include improving online platforms and enhancing digital services to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), making sure that websites as well as services are accessible for everyone.
Benefits of EAA Compliance
The acceptance of EAA brings numerous advantages. First of all, it opens up new markets and allows your product or service to reach a whole new audience – millions of citizens with some form of disability. Inclusivity will not only boost your brand but also sales and customer loyalty.
Moreover, accessibility can also augment your SEO efforts since accessible websites usually rank better on search engines. This will help improve visibility and increase traffic.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
If an entity fails to comply with the EAA, it will most likely face heavy penalties, which could range from a €1,000,000 fine and even more, depending on the gravity of the violation. Non-compliance at a persistent level may lead to the prohibition of the products or services from being sold on the European market.
How to Ensure EAA Compliance?
To stay ahead of the June 2025 deadline, businesses need a proactive strategy. Here are the steps to help you achieve compliance:
Conduct an Accessibility Audit
Firstly, evaluate accessibility limitations that exist. Then, you can perform a comprehensive audit of all your digital platforms, consumer products, and physical infrastructures to assess compliance against these standards in the EAA.
Incorporate automated testing and real-life testing methods with individuals having some type of disability for accurate observations.
Adopt Accessible Design Practices
Accessibility is the “born-in” efficiency measure. By that, it means designing a new website, creating an app, or perhaps upgrading its self-service machines, using the WCAG 2.1 standards and universal design principles for easy compliance and better user experience.
Train Your Team
To ensure that each individual in the team understands and supports accessibility standards.
Build an ongoing training course to develop the knowledge of their developers, designers, content writers, and customer service agents on all accessibility practices within the company.
Conclusion
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a real game changer for businesses in the EU or those that sell to EU customers. The enforcement deadline of June 2025 is closing in fast, so the priority should be put on accessibility along with inclusivity.
Complying with EAA standards will not only spare you from penalties but also allow you to reach a larger, more diverse audience.
Going beyond just the minimum requirements and making an extra effort to make your site more accessible will add to the user experience, site traffic, and your bottom-line success in the long run.
Start preparing today—because the clock is ticking, and accessibility is more important than ever.
2025 is Closer Than You Think—Act Now
Pooja Upadhyay
Director Of People Operations & Client Relations
