Your Ultimate Guide to European Accessibility Act Compliance in 2025
The European Accessibility Act (EAA), also known as the EU Accessibility Act, represents a watershed moment in digital inclusion. As we approach the crucial 2025 deadline, organisations worldwide scramble to understand and implement these new requirements.
This comprehensive guide will help you navigate the complexities of this groundbreaking legislation. Discover whether your organisation falls under the EAA and gain insights into the compliance process.
Understanding the European Accessibility Act
The European Accessibility Act is the EU’s most comprehensive digital accessibility legislation to date. Unlike previous guidelines, it introduces legally binding requirements that impact on a wide range of products and services. More than just a regulatory hurdle, the EAA is a transformative framework reshaping how we approach digital accessibility.
Its scope extends far beyond website compliance, covering everything from e-commerce platforms and banking services to e-books and telecommunications.
For businesses, the EAA means standardised accessibility rules, lower costs, easier cross-border trade, and expanded market opportunities. For 87 million people with disabilities and millions of elderly citizens (expected to reach 129.8 million by 2050), it ensures more accessible, affordable products and services. Plus, it enables fewer barriers in daily life and increases job opportunities in accessibility-related fields.
Why Was the EAA Introduced?
The EAA was developed to eliminate accessibility barriers and create a more inclusive digital economy across the EU. Several key factors drove its introduction:
Market fragmentation
Before the EAA, each EU member state had its own accessibility laws, leading to a fragmented system that complicated compliance for businesses operating across borders. This lack of harmonisation increased costs, created legal uncertainty, and restricted market opportunities for accessible products and services.
Digital exclusion
Research showed that people with disabilities were paying nearly 3 times more for essential services due to limited accessibility options – especially during COVID-19. Many faced difficulties accessing online banking, e-commerce, public transport booking systems, and other digital services, further deepening economic and social inequalities.
Technological evolution
As digital technology advanced, the gap between accessibility needs and available solutions grew. The absence of standardised requirements meant that accessibility was often treated as an afterthought rather than an integral part of digital innovation, leaving many users excluded from new technological developments.
Economic opportunity
European Commision’s study estimated that improved accessibility could unlock a market worth 120 billion Euros annually in the EU alone. By making digital products and services more accessible, businesses can tap into a larger consumer base, drive innovation, and create new job opportunities in accessibility-related fields.
By addressing these challenges, the EAA aims to harmonise accessibility standards, reduce compliance costs, and ensure that digital services are inclusive and accessible to all.