European Accessibility Act (EAA)
The European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) is an EU directive designed to improve the accessibility of key products and services across the European Union. It aims to remove barriers that prevent people (especially those with disabilities) from fully participating in everyday life.
What does it cover?
The EAA applies to a wide range of digital and physical offerings, including
- Websites and mobile apps
- E-commerce platforms
- Banking services
- Ticket machines and ATMs
- Transport booking tools
- E-readers and smartphones
- Customer support (including phone and email systems)
In short: if your product or service involves technology and is used by the public, there’s a good chance it falls under the EAA.
When does it take effect?
The deadline for compliance is 28 June 2025. While the directive was passed in 2019, EU member states were given time to turn it into national law. That process is already complete, and now businesses are expected to be ready.
Who has to comply?
The EAA affects all businesses selling into the EU market, even those based outside of Europe. So if you operate internationally and offer digital products or services in the EU, you’re on the hook.
There’s one exception: microenterprises (with fewer than 10 employees and under €2 million in turnover) may be exempt if meeting the requirements would cause an “undue burden.” That said, accessibility is increasingly seen as a baseline expectation, not an optional extra.
Is following WCAG enough?
No – but it’s a big part of the puzzle.
The EAA references EN 301 549, a European accessibility standard that includes (but is not limited to) the WCAG guidelines for web and mobile content. In other words, WCAG helps, but you’ll also need to consider things like hardware, documentation, support channels, and how users interact with your product as a whole.
What happens if you don’t comply?
Each country enforces the EAA differently, but consequences can include:
- Fines or legal action
- Product recalls or withdrawals from the EU market
- Reputational damage and loss of customer trust
Inaccessible products can also expose your business to discrimination claims under other legislation, like the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights or national equality laws.
Why does this matter?
Over 135 million people in the EU live with a disability, and even more face temporary or situational impairments. The EAA helps ensure they can shop online, use public transport, manage finances, and access information without unnecessary barriers.
For businesses, this isn’t just about compliance—it’s about reaching a wider audience and building better, more usable products for everyone.
How the EAA is being implemented across Europe
The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive, which means each country has to pass its own national law to enforce it. Here’s how some key markets are rolling it out:
Germany
Legislation: Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG) and BITV 2.0
Enforcement: BFSG governs private sector accessibility; BITV 2.0 still applies to public sector websites. Fines for non-compliance can reach €100,000.
Effective from: 28 June 2025 (BFSG for private sector)
France
Legislation: Loi n° 2005-102 (updated to align with EAA)
Enforcement: Annual accessibility declarations are mandatory. Fines can reach €50,000, with added public “naming and shaming.”
Effective from: Already applies to public sector; private sector enforcement begins 2025.
Italy
Legislation: Legge Stanca (Law No. 4/2004), updated to match EAA
Enforcement: Covers both public and private services. Non-compliance can lead to fines and exclusion from public contracts.
Effective from: 28 June 2025 (for EAA-specific requirements)
Netherlands
Legislation: Tijdelijk besluit digitale toegankelijkheid overheid
Enforcement: Applies to all public sector websites and apps. Private sector expected to follow EAA rules from 2025.
Effective from: Public sector: in force. Private sector: 28 June 2025.
Spain
Legislation: Real Decreto 1112/2018 and Ley General de derechos de las personas con discapacidad
Enforcement: Active monitoring and complaints-based enforcement. Sanctions vary depending on the breach.
Effective from: Already in place for public sector; extended to private sector from 2025.
Poland
Legislation:Ustawa o dostępności cyfrowej stron internetowych i aplikacji mobilnych podmiotów publicznych
Enforcement: Fines and administrative measures for public sector. Private sector obligations come into force in 2025.
Effective from: Public sector: in place. Private sector: 28 June 2025.
Czech Republic
Legislation:Act No. 99/2019 on digital accessibility
Enforcement: Fines up to €400,000 for violations.
Effective from: Already in effect for public sector. Private sector: from 2025.
What about the UK?
The UK is no longer bound by the EAA, but it still has accessibility laws in place:
United Kingdom
Legislation: Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018
Enforcement: The Equality Act covers all digital services (including private sector), while the 2018 regulations apply to public sector bodies. As of October 2024, public sector websites and apps must meet WCAG 2.2 AA, which makes the UK the first country to adopt WCAG 2.2 into law.
Effective from: Already in force
How to prepare for the EAA
If you do business in the EU, accessibility isn’t optional. The EAA makes that clear, and the deadline is getting close.
Here’s how to get started:
1. Audit your current products and services
Check whether your websites, mobile apps, customer portals, and digital tools meet the relevant accessibility standards. Remember, in the EU this is EN 301 549, which includes WCAG 2.1 AA as a baseline for web content but goes further.
2. Look beyond just your website
The EAA also covers documentation, customer support, self-service terminals, and other touchpoints. Accessibility needs to be baked in across the entire experience—not just online.
3. Fix critical barriers early
Prioritize changes that prevent people from using your service altogether. That might include things like unlabeled form fields, missing focus states, or modal dialogs that trap keyboard users.
4. Build accessibility into your workflow
This isn’t a one-time fix. Make accessibility part of your design, development, and content processes from the start. If you only check for issues at the end, you’ll be stuck playing catch-up.
5. Train your team
Everyone from designers to developers to content editors has a role to play. Giving them the knowledge (and tools) to spot and fix accessibility issues is one of the most effective things you can do.
How Silktide can help
Silktide doesn’t promise instant compliance, but we do help you take the guesswork out of accessibility, make meaningful progress, and build digital experiences that include everyone.
Here’s how we support you:
- Automated testing, explained clearly
We scan your website for accessibility issues and show you exactly what’s wrong, where it is, and how to fix it—no technical jargon required. - Manual testing guidance
Some accessibility barriers can’t be detected automatically. We explain what to check manually, why it matters, and how to do it effectively. - Built-in training and videos
Every issue in the platform comes with a plain-language explanation and often a short video. The Silktide Academy gives your whole team bite-sized lessons on key accessibility skills. - YouTube and beyond
We also share free educational content on our YouTube channel, from beginner-friendly explainers to in-depth testing demos. - Expert support and workshops
Our consultants can help you write accessibility policies, run internal workshops, and build accessibility into your organization’s culture, not just your code.
Watch: How accessibility testing works
Want to see how Silktide helps you find and fix accessibility issues in the real world? These short videos walk you through both automated and manual testing: what they cover, how they work, and why both matter.
Overview of automated accessibility testing
Take a tour of Silktide’s platform and see how it identifies accessibility issues across your website, from missing alt text to problems buried deep in the code. You’ll learn how we explain each issue, why it matters, and how you can fix it directly in your CMS. (It’s not just accessibility! We help you improve spelling, SEO, mobile experience, and more, all in one place.
Video Transcript
00:00:00:00 – 00:00:28:09
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Silktide provides a single source of truth for problems ranging from spelling and grammar mistakes to accessibility issues. Whether you need a bird’s eye view of your entire web estate, or you want to dive into a site and get down to the nitty gritty of a single page’s issues, Silktide has you covered, no matter the size of your web estate. Silktide’s Inspector shows you exactly where your website’s problems are, whether it’s right out in the open, hidden in the code, or even on mobile,
00:00:28:11 – 00:00:54:16
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so you can get serious about accessibility. Every issue comes with information on why it matters to your website visitors, and simple guidance on how to fix it. You can even highlight parts of the page yourself and assign tasks to your teammates. Integrate your CMS with Silktide and you can fix these issues on the fly. And don’t forget, we’re talking about improving your content, accessibility, marketing, user experience and more.
00:00:54:18 – 00:01:04:15
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We know there’s a lot to keep track of, but with Silktide, you no longer need to be an expert in everything.
Overview of manual accessibility testing
Automated tests only go so far. In this video, you’ll see how our experts audit key user journeys using real assistive technologies and why human judgment is critical for catching subtle, real-world issues, like inconsistent buttons or inaccessible forms. We walk you through the process step-by-step, from auditing to workshops to follow-up checks.
Video Transcript
How do you know that your website is accessible? The best way is to have accessibility experts audit it.
Manual auditing combines human judgment, empathy, and a deep understanding of accessibility. Humans can go beyond automated tests to get a deeper look at things like forms, and how the site functions for users without a mouse.
Here’s an example: WCAG 3.2.4 Consistent identification. Yeah, that’s a mouthful. What this is about is that things on the page should be consistent in their behavior. So that’s a button. That’s a button. And that… is not a button? There are nuances that only a human can understand and identify.
So how does this work? Together, we agree on the site’s key pages, templates, forms, and user journeys.
Our team of experts used a mix of hardware, software and assistive technologies to identify barriers on your site.
Once the audit is complete, we provide you with easy to understand reports that present the findings in a clear and concise manner.
But it doesn’t end there. We go beyond just delivering a report. We schedule a workshop where you have dedicated time with one of our accessibility experts who will guide you through the results. You’ll gain a deeper understanding of the barriers and how they affect users. We will cut out the jargon and speak to you in plain language so that everyone on the team can understand.
After you’ve had time to meet the necessary changes, we will perform a targeted audit to review the barriers highlighted in the report to ensure they have been fixed.
Silktide understands that accessibility is not just a checkbox. It’s a continuous journey. Talk to our team of experts to learn how you can ensure your website meets the highest standards of accessibility.
Let’s make a plan.
Our accessibility experts are here to help you cut through the confusion and prepare for the European Accessibility Act. Book your free consultation and get clear, practical advice tailored to your organization.
Book your free EAA compliance consultation with our accessibility experts
- Reduce the legal risks of having an inaccessible website
- Learn how a combination of automated and manual accessibility testing helps you become compliant
- Discover how Silktide can improve your team’s accessibility workflow
- Take the pain out of learning accessibility
- Get a free scan of your website so you have a starting point
