European Accessibility Act
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is EU Directive 2019/882, which harmonises accessibility requirements across the Union for a broad catalogue of digital products and services. Its aim is to remove the barriers faced by people with disabilities and older users, giving them equal access to the digital market. Unlike earlier rules that covered mainly the public sector, the EAA places obligations on private companies as well.
How the European Accessibility Act works
The directive sets common functional requirements, but in practice they are met through conformance with the WCAG standard — the technical guidelines for digital accessibility. The scope of the regulation includes, among others:
- online stores and e-commerce — the entire purchase journey must be operable with assistive technologies,
- e-banking and payment services,
- e-books and readers,
- telecom and transport services,
- hardware such as ATMs, payment terminals and ticket machines.
The key WCAG criteria are that an interface be perceivable, operable, understandable and robust — from alternative text for images, through keyboard operation, to adequate contrast and a clear structure.
The EAA in practice
For site and shop owners the EAA means concrete work: an accessibility audit and improvements to keyboard navigation, contrast, alt text and screen-reader support, as well as ensuring responsiveness across devices. Accessibility also supports business goals — it improves UX for all users, aids SEO and widens the audience. Conformance is best built in at the design stage and then maintained across releases, based on the latest version of the WCAG 2.2 standard.
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Who does the European Accessibility Act apply to?
The directive covers companies offering in the EU, among others, online stores, e-banking, e-books, telecom and transport services, and hardware such as ATMs and self-service terminals. Micro-enterprises providing services are largely exempt, but manufacturers of digital products are covered without that exemption.
When did the EAA rules take effect?
The directive's requirements began applying to private entities on 28 June 2025. Member states transposed it into national law earlier, so businesses operating in the EU market should have adapted their digital products and services by that date at the latest.