The European Accessibility Act Is Coming—Is Your Website Ready?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) becomes enforceable on 28 June 2025. If you sell digital products or services in the EU, you’ll want to keep reading.
What’s this all about? In a nutshell, the EAA ensures that key products and services are accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities and older users. About time, right?
What Is the European Accessibility Act?
The EAA is an EU directive designed to establish consistent digital accessibility standards across all member countries. Currently, requirements vary significantly from country to country, making it challenging for both users and businesses.
By aligning these rules, the EAA helps businesses reduce development costs, expand reach, and make the digital world more inclusive. Not bad for a regulation.
What’s the Purpose of the European Accessibility Act?
Accessibility isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a win for the user experience. The EAA is committed to ensuring that digital tools work for everyone, not just the tech-savvy or those with physical abilities.
And let’s face it: better accessibility often means smoother UX for all your users.
What Products and Services Are Covered?
The act covers a lot more than just websites. Here’s a quick snapshot:
- Computers, smartphones, and e-readers
- Banking services, ATMs, and payment terminals
- Ticket machines and check-in kiosks
- E-commerce platforms and online stores
- Telecom services and media players
- Public transport booking tools
If it’s digital and used daily—there’s a good chance it’s included.
When Does the European Accessibility Act Take Effect?
Let’s break it down:
- Passed: June 2019
- Transposed into national laws by June 28, 2022
- Enforceable: June 28, 2025
- Legacy products get a grace period until June 28, 2030
You’ve still got time—but the deadline’s not as far away as it seems.
How Does This Affect You?
If you’re a developer, designer, or business owner in the EU market, this means rethinking your digital content and interfaces.
You may need to update contrast ratios, add alt text, improve keyboard navigation, or even rethink your checkout process. Not sure where to start? There are plenty of accessibility checklists and audits to guide you.
Why This Matters for UX and Inclusion
Ever tapped a button that didn’t respond or struggled to navigate a site with a screen reader? Now imagine that’s your everyday experience.
The EAA isn’t just legal red tape—it’s about removing digital roadblocks so more people can use your product. Which is the whole point, right?
Bonus: When you make your site accessible, it usually improves SEO and general usability, too.
Sources and References
- European Commission – European Accessibility Act
- Squire Patton Boggs – Guide to Compliance
- Ambiscale – What the EAA Affects
- Legibility, Readability & Comprehension
- Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
TL;DR: The European Accessibility Act goes live on June 28, 2025. If you want your digital content to reach more people—and stay compliant—start planning now.
