Time is running out. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) compliance deadline is coming up fast—June 28, 2025. If your business operates in the European Union or offers digital services to EU residents, this legislation applies to you.
The EAA is one of the most sweeping digital accessibility laws introduced by the European Union, and its goal is simple: ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access digital products and services.
But the path to compliance isn’t always clear. In this article, we’ll break down what you need to know about the EAA, who’s affected, and what you should do today to get compliant.
What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
Adopted in 2019, the EAA is an EU directive designed to harmonize accessibility requirements across member states. It applies to a wide range of digital products and services, including:
- Websites and mobile apps
- E-commerce platforms
- E-books and e-readers
- Banking and financial services
- Ticketing and transport services
- Telecommunication and audiovisual media
The goal is to remove barriers to access and create a unified set of requirements that make compliance easier across borders, while protecting the rights of people with disabilities.
Why the Deadline Matters
EU member states had until June 28, 2022, to transpose the directive into national law. Now, businesses have until June 28, 2025, to become compliant.
After that, enforcement begins. Companies that fail to meet EAA requirements could face:
- Fines from national regulators
- Lawsuits from advocacy groups or individuals
- Reputational damage
- Lost market access in one or more EU countries
If you operate online in any EU nation, the time to act is now.
Who Needs to Comply?
You need to comply with the EAA if:
- You sell products or services in the EU
- You offer digital tools used by EU consumers
- You run a public sector service or receive EU funding
Even U.S.- or UK-based companies that provide services to EU customers must comply. The internet doesn’t recognize borders, and neither does accessibility legislation.
What Are the EAA Requirements?
The EAA aligns closely with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1)—the same standard used by the ADA in the U.S. Key principles include:
- Perceivable: Provide alt text for images, captions for videos, and clear layout structures.
- Operable: Ensure your site can be used with a keyboard and doesn’t cause seizures with flashing content.
- Understandable: Use clear, readable text and predictable navigation.
- Robust: Make sure your website works well with assistive technologies like screen readers.
Steps to Prepare for EAA Compliance
Here’s a simplified roadmap to help your business get EAA-ready:
- Conduct an Accessibility Audit
- Use Reguweb’s comprehensive scanner to assess your current state.
- Identify critical issues that fail WCAG 2.1 standards.
- Fix What You Can Immediately
- Common fixes include alt text, contrast updates, keyboard navigation, and form label corrections.
- Engage Experts for Complex Issues
- Some accessibility problems require deep technical or design expertise. Reguweb’s remediation services can help you resolve these.
- Document Your Efforts
- Keep records of your compliance steps. This helps show good faith if your accessibility is ever challenged.
- Implement Ongoing Monitoring
- Accessibility is not a one-and-done task. New content and site updates may introduce issues. Reguweb’s daily scans and alerts help you stay ahead.
- Train Your Team
- Developers, designers, and content creators must all understand accessibility basics. Reguweb’s training programs ensure your entire organization is aligned.
Reguweb: Your Partner for EAA Compliance
Reguweb simplifies EAA compliance by offering:
- A powerful automated scanner
- Manual audits by accessibility experts
- A customizable accessibility widget
- Continuous monitoring and alerts
- Training and documentation support
Whether you’re a small business or an enterprise-level organization, Reguweb is designed to scale with your needs.
The Time to Act Is Now
With just over a year left until the EAA enforcement date, businesses must start preparing immediately. Accessibility isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s about opening your business to more people and doing the right thing.
Make accessibility part of your 2025 strategy.
👉 Start your free Reguweb audit today and take the first step toward full EAA compliance.