Are You Ready for the European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025?

Because enforcement is soon and it’s going to reshape how you design, develop and produce digital products and services across the EU. 

You’ve probably heard of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). But do you truly understand what it means for your digital products and services, your future in the EU market, and how to be compliant after the June 28, 2025 enforcement date?  

Here we break down what the EAA is, why it was developed and how to ensure compliance.  

Let’s first talk the EAA—and what it actually is 

The EAA is a landmark EU directive you can’t afford to ignore. Adopted in 2019, it mandates that all essential digital products and services be accessible to everyone, especially individuals with disabilities and others facing accessibility challenges. And it was developed from a clear need for action.  

Europe’s accessibility laws have long been inconsistent. Some countries like Germany and France enforced relatively robust accessibility requirements, while others did not. This lack of uniformity created legal uncertainty for businesses and inconsistent access for users. 

Essentially, the EAA sets out to fix that. It establishes a unified set of accessibility requirements across all 27 EU member states—for the first time ever. That means businesses operating in the EU will no longer have to navigate a patchwork of conflicting national laws. And it gives those with disabilities equal access to digital products and services across, fostering a more inclusive society.

And here’s what that means for your enterprise 

If your business operates in the EU, or if you design, develop or offer certain digital products and services within the region—then the EAA almost certainly applies to your enterprise.  

The requirements are broad and far-reaching and not just about ticking boxes off a list. They’re about ensuring the digital experiences you create are usable by everyone. Digital inclusivity is a baseline expectation, not a simple bonus feature.  

That means your products and services—whether they’re an app, website, e-reader, banking terminal, customer service chatbot, or e-commerce platform—need to be: 

Understandable – Clear language, logical layouts, readable fonts, and proper subtitles. 

Navigable – Easy to move through with a keyboard, screen reader, or assistive technology. 

Technically usable – Designed with accessibility standards in mind, such as proper HTML structure, captioned media, and adequate color contrast. 

It’s more than compliance – it’s a mindset shift 

At first glance, preparing for the EAA might feel overwhelming—especially if accessibility hasn’t been a major focus for your business in the past.  

But this is more than just a regulatory hurdle. It’s a valuable opportunity to reimagine your digital products through the lens of inclusion, usability, and future-readiness. 

Think of it as: 

• A chance to improve your user experience for everyone - not just people with disabilities.
• A way to stand out as a forward-thinking, socially responsible brand.
• A proactive step toward avoiding legal risk.
• A smart investment in a more resilient, scalable digital foundation.

By embracing accessibility now, you're contributing to a wider cultural shift that’s redefining what good digital design looks like. You’re helping build a digital Europe that’s open to all, regardless of age, ability, or background. 

 

 

The EAA covers many products and services 

The EAA applies to a wide range of digital products and services, aiming to ensure inclusivity across many industries, including telecommunications, banking, finance, transportation, and media and entertainment. 

Products	Services
Computers	E-commerce platforms
Smartphones, tablets	Banking
ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines	Transport services
E-readers	Audiovisual media services (TV, streaming platforms, digital content, etc.)
Payment terminals	Websites

 

And the deadline isn’t far away 

The EAA will take effect on June 28, 2025. From this date onward, all new digital products and services, as well as any updates to existing ones, must comply with the EAA's accessibility requirements. 

For products and services already on the market that are not updated before the deadline, the compliance deadline is extended until June 28, 2030. 

But not everyone or everything has to comply (in some cases) 

The EAA does include some exceptions. But they’re narrow, conditional, easy to misunderstand, and not a simple opt-out. While the law doesn’t always require your enterprise to submit formal documentation upfront, it does expect reasonable justification for the exemption.  

In other words, if you’re not following the requirements—whether due to technical limitations, financial constraints or the nature of your content—you’ll need to prepare to explain why the decision was made.  
 
Here’s a quick breakdown:

1. Micro-enterprises: If your business meets the micro-enterprise criteria (fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover under €2 million), it’s exempt from the requirements of the EAA. There’s no need for additional documentation in this case, but if you’re ever questioned, you’d need to prove you meet those criteria.
2. Disproportionate Burden: This exemption applies if meeting the accessibility requirements would impose an undue financial or technical burden. The “disproportionate burden” clause is where documentation and justification come into play. If you’re claiming this exemption, you’ll need to provide evidence that implementing accessibility standards would be significantly difficult or costly. This justification is often assessed on a case-by-case basis.
3. Content Exclusions: Certain content, like pre-recorded media or third-party content not controlled by the business, may also be exempt. However, these exemptions still require businesses to show that the content in question falls under the exclusion categories.

 

So, what does compliance actually look like?

Complying with the EAA isn’t an easy task. It sets out minimum accessibility requirements but doesn’t provide a step-by-step guide on how to actually achieve them.  

However, the EAA aligns with EN 301 549, which is based on the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines.  

EN 301 is the European Standard on accessibility requirements for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products and services. Consider it as your “guide” or “toolkit” that defines how to make products and services accessible, providing concrete criteria and testable requirements for you to follow.  

EN 301549 directly references WCAG, which are a set of internally recognised guidelines that serve as the global benchmark for web and software accessibility. 

It outlines how to create digital experiences that are Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust:  

• Perceivable – Can all users access the information presented on your platform? Are there text alternatives for images, subtitles for videos, and audio descriptions?  
• Operable – Can users navigate and interact with your digital content using a keyboard, screen reader, or other assistive technologies? Are all interactive elements easy to use?  
• Understandable – Is your content written in clear, simple language? Is navigation predictable and intuitive? Do users receive helpful feedback when errors occur?  
• Robust – Is your digital content compatible with assistive technologies and adaptable to different devices and future accessibility innovations?  
  
  

And what level of compliance should your enterprise aim for?  

Currently, EN 301 549 aligns with WCAG 2.1 AA, which is the standard businesses are required to follow to ensure accessibility.  

However, WCAG 2.2 is already in place, and it introduces even more detailed accessibility criteria. By late 2025, WCAG 2.2 is expected to be fully incorporated into EN 301 549. We recommend conforming to WCAG 2.2 AA to future-proof your digital products and services.  

How we can help you ensure compliance on a global scale 

The EAA is complex. You must navigate its robust requirements while managing tight deadlines, resources and content quality. And because it’s one of the EU’s most comprehensive digital accessibility laws to date, it places a heavy demand on your enterprise to rethink almost everything about the design and manufacturing of products and services.  

Meeting these requirements may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. We offer a comprehensive suite of multimedia language services and solutions to help you create inclusive, engaging and accessible content.  

• Voiceover: Native-speaking voice talent and audio descriptions for inclusive video content. 
• AI Dubbing: Scalable, cost-effective video accessibility in multiple languages. 
• Subtitling: Synchronised, multilingual subtitles for users who are deaf or hard of hearing. 
• Interpreting: Real-time, onsite or remote interpreting services to foster inclusion. 
• Desktop Publishing (DTP): Multilingual, accessible design tailored to diverse languages and cultures. 

 

Now is the time to act. Partner with us. 

The EAA is completely reshaping the EU’s digital landscape, and it’s not just about technical compliance. It’s about making content more accessible to every single person, regardless of their abilities.  

With the deadline fast approaching, it’s essential that your digital assets and content are inclusive, clear and meet the EAA’s requirements.  

Today, you have an opportunity to do more than comply. You can lead. By embedding accessibility into every customer journey—from websites and videos to documentation and live interactions—you can create a better, more connected, and more human digital experience for everyone.  

 

The time to act is now.