Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025 a game changer?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is new legislation that requires all 27 EU member states to incorporate the provisions from the EU directive into their national laws.
Previous legislation around accessibility has targeted the public sector, but EAA is squarely aimed at the private sector.
The date enforcement comes into force is 28 June 2025, and this act has bite with potential for fines and prison sentences.
Is my business affected by the EAA 2025?
If your business is based in any of the 27 EU member states, then you need to check if your business is classified as a microenterprise.
If your business has fewer than 10 employees and/or less than €2 Million annual turnover then you are a microenterprise and are exempt. However, do not let this fact deter you from adopting accessibility practices as it is still beneficial to embrace accessibility.
If you are not a microenterprise then you will need to comply with the legislation should you provide products or services defined in the European Accessibility Act.
What services or products fall within the scope of the EAA?
The European Accessibility Act 2025 identifies key products and services that are likely to have diverging accessibility requirements for persons with disabilities.
- E-commerce websites
- E-books
- TV equipment related to digital television services
- Banking services
- Computers and operating systems
- ATMs (cash machines), ticketing and check-in machines
- Smartphones
- Telephony services and related equipment
- Services related to air, bus, rail and waterborne passenger transport
Did you say there are fines and prosecution for non compliance?
We did.
The penalties differ between the EU member states; however, what is clear is the intention to enforce these laws.
Ireland has announced fines of up to €60,000 for a conviction on indictment or €5000 for a summary conviction. Prison sentences of 6-18 month prison are a possibility too as Ireland will issue sentences, in place or in addition to the fines.
My business is based outside the European Union so do I need to comply with the EAA?
If your business provides services or sells products to consumers within the EU then the answer is yes.
Does the European Accessibility Act 2025 only affect E-commerce websites ?
The EAA specifies E-commerce websites only, which means B2B and B2C without E-commerce capabilities would be considered out of scope. However, you should make your website accessible to everyone irrespective of this new legislation. There are plenty of other reasons to ensure your website is accessible.
How is EAA conformance tested?
Like the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations, the European Accessibility Act 2025 uses the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 for enforcement, but this should be seen as a baseline for accessibility conformance.
Service providers should clearly explain how they meet accessibility requirements in their terms and conditions or similar documents. Regular accessibility checks are essential for both products and services, even after updates or modifications.
There are good reasons for your business to comply to the European Accessibility Act 2025
You should consider the following points before ignoring the impact of EAA on your business:
- Legal action from individuals or advocacy groups representing people with disabilities will become more prevalent.
- Fines and/or Prison sentences imposed by EU member states.
- Exclusion from procurement processes. As EAA compliance becomes more commonplace across Europe, it is easy to see how winning contracts will become harder if you do not embrace the EAA framework.
- Damage to your reputation
- Loss of customers as products that are inaccessible alienate potential customers that you spend so much effort to attract to your website.
- Disruption. It will be costly and disruptive if your business is forced to modify products, services, or websites to meet EAA standards.
So now you have a bit more insight into the EAA, please do not ignore it. Whether your business needs to comply or not, talk to us to discuss how you can improve your accessibility credentials.
And another thing, I cannot get ‘EAA, it’s in the game.’ out of my head every time I speak about EAA. Probably caused by a misspent youth.
Disclaimer: I am not a legal expert and cannot provide legal advice on the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The information in this article is intended to be informative only. Consult with your legal team or a legal professional who specialises in digital legislation for detailed guidance.
Simon Leadbetter,
The Accessibility Guy at Kindera
