On 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force across all EU member states. Any business—whether based inside or outside the EU—that offers products or services online to EU consumers must ensure digital assets meet strict accessibility requirements. Miss the deadline and you risk hefty fines (up to €3 million), product removal from the EU market, or reputational damage—not to mention leaving millions of users behind.
What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The EAA is a 2019 EU directive designed to harmonize accessibility rules for products and services across member states. By standardizing requirements, it simplifies cross-border trade and ensures people with disabilities and the elderly have equal access to digital content. Unlike the 2016 Web Accessibility Directive—which targets public-sector bodies—the EAA applies to both private and public organizations, covering a wider scope of digital and physical products.
Key Provisions of the EAA
Scope: Applies to websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, e-books, self-service kiosks, ATMs, and more
Exemptions: Micro-enterprises (fewer than 10 employees and €2 million turnover) may be exempt, as well as products posing “undue burden”
Enforcement: Each member state designates an authority to monitor compliance and impose penalties
Timeline and Deadline
Adopted: April 17 2019
National Transposition: By June 2022, member states had to embed the directive into local law
Enforcement Begins: June 28 2025—no grace period; full compliance required
Technical Standards: EN 301 549 & WCAG 2.1/2.2
The EAA doesn’t prescribe its own checklist. Instead, it relies on the European Harmonized Standard EN 301 549, which currently references WCAG 2.1 AA criteria—and is set to include WCAG 2.2 in its upcoming update.
Conforming to EN 301 549
Harmonized Standard: Voluntary but “presumptive” proof of conformity
Beyond Web: Covers software, hardware, e-books, and non-web ICT products
Documentation: Maintain technical accessibility specifications as evidence of compliance
WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA Criteria
Perceivable: Text alternatives, adaptable content, distinguishable visuals
Operable: Keyboard navigation, clear focus states, sufficient time for users to read/use content
Understandable: Predictable navigation, input assistance, consistent layouts
Robust: Compatibility with assistive technologies via semantic HTML and ARIA roles
Essential Accessibility Features: ARIA Roles, Semantic HTML & Keyboard Navigation
Adopting the right markup and attributes is critical for users relying on screen readers and other assistive technologies.
ARIA Roles & Attributes
Landmark Roles: <nav>, <main>, <header>, <footer> for clear page structure
ARIA Labels: aria-label, aria-labelledby to describe non-text elements
State Management: aria-expanded, aria-hidden for interactive components
Keyboard Accessibility
Skip Links: <a href="#main">Skip to content</a> for quick navigation
Focus Management: Visible :focus styles; logical tab order
Custom Controls: Ensure JS-based widgets replicate native keyboard behaviors
Testing and Auditing Your Website
A mix of automated tooling and manual checks uncovers the full spectrum of accessibility issues.
Automated Testing Tools
Wave (WebAim)
axe (Deque Systems)
Lighthouse (Chrome DevTools)
Siteimprove and AudioEye platforms for enterprise-level monitoring
Manual Testing & User Feedback
Screen Reader Testing: NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
Keyboard-Only Navigation: Audit every page and interactive component
User Testing: Involve people with disabilities for real-world insights
Compliance Management and Ongoing Monitoring
Meeting the deadline is just the first step—sustained compliance demands organizational buy-in and clear processes.
Accessibility Statements & Reporting
Publish an Accessibility Statement: Detailing conformity level, known issues, and feedback channels
Complaint Handling: List designated enforcement authority and contact info
Training & Organizational Policies
Employee Training: Regular workshops on accessibility best practices
Governance: Assign an “Accessibility Champion” or create an internal audit team
Continuous Improvement: Integrate accessibility into your QA and release cycles
SEO and Business Benefits of Accessibility Compliance
Far from being just a legal burden, accessibility work delivers tangible SEO and commercial wins.
Improved SEO & User Experience
Semantic Markup: Boosts crawlability and indexation
Reduced Bounce Rates: Better usability across devices and for all users
Core Web Vitals: Accessible sites often perform faster, enhancing page-speed scores
Expanded Market Reach
Inclusive Design: Opens your products to 80 million+ EU users with disabilities
Brand Reputation: Demonstrates corporate responsibility and care
Competitive Advantage: Outpace rivals who are slow to adapt
Step-by-Step Compliance Checklist
Audit Your Site: Run automated scans and manual reviews to create an issue log
Remediate Critical Issues: Prioritize “A” and “AA” WCAG criteria—images, forms, navigation
Publish an Accessibility Statement: Include your conformance status, test results, and contact info
Train Your Team: Schedule recurring accessibility training for designers, developers, and content editors
Monitor and Update: Integrate accessibility checks into your CI/CD pipeline and perform quarterly audits
Conclusion & Next Steps
The June 28, 2025 deadline is non-negotiable: businesses that serve EU customers must act now. Audit your site, adopt EN 301 549/WCAG standards, and establish ongoing processes to ensure both legal compliance and a superior experience for all users.Ready to get compliant? Contact AldoMedia today for an end-to-end accessibility audit, remediation plan, and SEO strategy that ensures your site not only meets the EAA requirements but also ranks higher and serves every user inclusively.