Loading...
Loading content...
Directive (EU) 2019/882, the European Accessibility Act, sets a single accessibility baseline across the EU for the products and services that disabled consumers rely on most — banking, e-commerce, transport, e-books, and consumer-facing software. It applies to any business selling those services into the EU, regardless of where the business itself is based.
The EAA is sectoral — it doesn't blanket the whole web. It targets specific products and services that, between them, account for the vast majority of everyday digital interactions:
E-commerce websites and apps
Any consumer-facing online shop, regardless of seller location, if it serves EU consumers.
Banking and payment services
Online banking, payment-account websites, mobile banking apps, payment terminals.
Transport services
Passenger transport websites, mobile apps, e-ticketing, real-time travel info.
E-books and reading software
EPUB content, dedicated e-reader apps, the software platforms that deliver them.
Telecom services and end-user equipment
Phones, smart TVs, set-top boxes, voice/video communication services, emergency communications (112).
Consumer-facing computers and OSs
Operating systems and general-purpose hardware sold to consumers.
Self-service terminals
ATMs, ticketing kiosks, check-in kiosks, vending.
Audiovisual media services
VOD platforms, streaming apps, EPGs that interact with TV broadcasts.
The EAA does not, on its own, require accessibility for:
Microenterprises providing services (under 10 employees and ≤ €2 million turnover) are exempted from the services obligations, though they're still encouraged to comply.
Compliance with the harmonized European standard EN 301 549 creates a presumption of conformity. EN 301 549's web requirements directly reference WCAG 2.1 Level AA, so a WCAG 2.1 AA program is the practical baseline. EN 301 549 also adds requirements EN-specific requirements for hardware, software, ICT-based documents, and assistive-technology compatibility that go beyond the WCAG content rules.
Penalties are set by each member state and vary widely — France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands have all implemented their own enforcement regimes, with fines that can reach hundreds of thousands of euros per violation in some jurisdictions, plus orders to remove non-compliant products from the market.
Cross-border consumers can complain to the authority in either the seller's or the buyer's member state.
The deadline has passed. Run a baseline scan, fix the high-impact violations on checkout and account flows first, and publish a public conformance statement so regulators see good-faith effort.