If your company does business in the European Union (EU), even if you’re not based there, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) may soon apply to you. With the law taking effect on June 28, 2025, now is the perfect time to ensure your digital presence is compliant.
The EAA will take effect in all EU member states, creating a unified standard for accessibility. This legislation ensures that essential products and services are accessible to people with disabilities, focusing on products and services that are most important for daily life and business interactions.
Creating accessible environments, both physical and digital, is critical for fostering inclusivity and expanding market reach. Research shows that 70% of disabled online shoppers are forced to click away from websites they find difficult to navigate. This represents not just a loss of potential customers but also significant revenue.
Beyond compliance, accessible design often improves usability for all users. Clear navigation, readable text, and intuitive interfaces benefit everyone, not just those with disabilities.
The EAA covers a range of products and services:
Computers and operating systems
Smartphones and communication devices
Digital television equipment
ATMs
E-readers
Ticketing and check-in machines
Telecommunication services
Banking
E-commerce
E-books
Audio-visual media services
Services related to air, bus, rail and waterborne passenger transport
U.S.-based e-commerce companies selling to EU consumers
Hotel offering online booking to EU-based guests
Any business with digital services accessible to EU customers
Non-compliance with the EAA can lead to serious consequences:
Significant fines (enforced on a per-country basis)
Removal of non-compliant products or services from the EU market
Suspension of the company’s right to conduct business in the EU
The EAA relies on European Standard EN 301 549 as its technical benchmark. This standard currently aligns with WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines and is expected to update to WCAG 2.2 AA by late 2025 or early 2026.
In addition to making your product or service accessible, many countries require organizations to publish an accessibility statement detailing their accessibility status.
If your company uses third-party products or services, you are responsible for ensuring their compliance too. Before procurement, verify accessibility using documentation such as a Voluntary Product Accessibility Template (VPAT®). For existing vendor relationships, it’s time to have conversations about their accessibility standards. View a completed example VPAT report.
One important consideration: using an accessibility overlay (those automated pop-ups designed to enhance site accessibility) will not satisfy EAA requirements. The EU Commission has stated they cannot endorse products in the overlay tool or widget category.
These solutions often fall short because they cannot comprehensively address complex accessibility issues and frequently create inconsistent user experiences. True accessibility requires thoughtful implementation throughout your digital ecosystem.
Whether you operate in the EU or not, improving accessibility is beneficial for all organizations. Here are practical steps to prepare:
Identify which of your products or services need attention. Focus first on digital assets that service EU customers or have a global reach.
Conduct an accessibility audit (we can help you with this now!). It’s important to understand your current compliance level.
Develop a comprehensive plan. Create a roadmap to address and resolve accessibility issues.
Implement team training. Ensure your team understands accessibility principles.
Establish regular compliance checks. Make accessibility an ongoing commitment.
Need help auditing your website for WCAG 2.1 AA standards? We’d be happy to help evaluate your site’s accessibility and develop a plan for improvement.
IAAP CPACC certified accessibility specialist who's spoken at conferences from South Dakota to international stages. With a Master's in Information Systems and MBA, Kaitlyn expertly handles everything from CMS builds to front-end development—all while ensuring universal access. Click Rain's go-to accessibility guru.
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