The European Accessibility Act: What Changes in June 2025

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA, Directive 2019/882) requires that a wide range of products and services offered in the EU meet accessibility standards. For websites and apps, this means compliance with EN 301 549, which references WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

Who does it apply to?

The EAA applies to businesses offering digital products or services to consumers in the EU. This includes:

• E-commerce websites
• Banking and financial services websites
• Transport services (booking, ticketing)
• Media and streaming services
• Consumer apps

There is an exemption for microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees and less than €2M annual turnover), but this does not apply to larger businesses.

What is the deadline?

EU member states were required to transpose the directive into national law by 28 June 2022. The compliance deadline for businesses is 28 June 2025. After this date, products and services must meet the requirements.

What happens if you don't comply?

Each EU member state sets its own enforcement regime, but the directive requires member states to put effective, proportionate, and dissuasive penalties in place. Complaints can be filed with national market surveillance authorities, and businesses may face audits, corrective orders, and fines.

What should you do now?

• Run a baseline accessibility audit of your website against WCAG 2.1 AA
• Identify and prioritise the most critical violations
• Set up ongoing monitoring so you catch regressions as your site changes
• Document your remediation work — having an accessibility statement and a record of ongoing efforts is valuable evidence of good faith

The EAA doesn't require perfection — it requires genuine effort and demonstrable compliance with the standard. Automated monitoring is an essential part of any serious compliance programme.