The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025: What Every UX and Product Team Must Know Now

Introduction

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) marks a transformational shift in how digital products and services are designed and delivered across the European Union. Set to take effect for the private sector on June 28, 2025 (with certain legacy and public sector exemptions until June 28, 2030), the EAA establishes a unified standard for digital accessibility. It applies to most private businesses offering products or services in the EU, including those based outside the bloc. The act harnesses the EN 301 549 standard, harmonizing with WCAG 2.1/2.2 AA guidelines, and moves accessibility beyond a legal checklist to a vital part of your business’s growth strategy.

The EAA shapes how users experience your brand across every digital channel: web, mobile, and self-service technology. Non-compliance brings immediate market access barriers, the risk of steep legal penalties, and the real threat of customer churn. But with the right approach, EAA readiness can also unlock business growth and brand loyalty.

What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA) and Why Should Businesses Care Now?

The EAA is an EU-wide regulation requiring digital products and services—from e-commerce sites to banking portals—to be accessible to people with disabilities and functional limitations. Its aim is to break down digital barriers and promote inclusion.

Why Act Now?

Enforcement starts June 28, 2025 for private-sector companies.
Non-compliance puts your business at risk: being blocked from EUmarkets, facing legal penalties, and losing customer trust.
EAA shifts accessibility from a technical requirement to a core aspect of user experience, directly shaping how customers perceive and interact with your brand.

How Does the EAA Relate to WCAG and EN 301 549?

The technical foundation of EAA compliance lies in EN 301 549, which harmonizes with the globally recognized Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

EN 301 549 and WCAG Alignment

WCAG 2.1 AA Standards – Serve as the baseline for perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust (POUR) digital content.
Moving Forward to WCAG 2.2 – The next evolution introduces refinements like clearer focus indicators and enhanced usability for cognitive impairments.

For deeper technical details, check out our WCAG 2.0 Guide, covering essential criteria like semantic coding, keyboard navigation, and contrast ratios.

Who Needs to Comply with the EAA—and What Products or Services Are Affected?

The EAA affects businesses offering digital products and services within the EU or selling into EU markets. The scope extends to several industries and platforms, including websites, e-commerce platforms, mobile apps, and more.

Affected Products and Services

Web and Mobile Interfaces – Websites, apps, and self-service customer portals.
E-commerce Platforms – Digital storefronts for goods and services.
Self-Service Devices – ATMs, ticket kiosks, and smart devices.
PDFs and Documents – Digital content provided to users.

Exemptions

While most companies must comply, the EAA provides key exemptions for certain scenarios:

Micro-Enterprises – Businesses with fewer than 10 employees and annual revenue under €2 million.
Legacy Content – Digital content not updated after June 2025.
Disproportionate Burden – If compliance imposes an unreasonable economic load, an analysis can justify an exemption.

How Does the EAA Redefine User Experience (UX) Expectations?

The EAA goes beyond passing code audits: it mandates user-centric, inclusive, and usable design driven by the POUR principles:

POUR Principles for Modern UX:

Perceivable: Is content readable, visible, and available in multiple formats?

Example: High-contrast text and alt text for images.

Operable: Can users navigate with a keyboard, voice, or assistive tech?

Example: Checkout forms navigable by keyboard or with a screen reader.

Understandable: Are interactions predictable and feedback clear?

Example: Concise form validation, consistent button labels.

Robust:Is your platform compatible with current and future assistive tools?

Example: Well-structured HTML for screen readers and APIs for kiosks.

Accessibility isn’t only for screen reader users—think about people with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive differences. For instance, an inaccessible checkout form doesn’t just risk a failed sale; it can lead to a compliance violation and lost lifetime value.

What Are the Consequences of Non-Compliance of EAA?

National authorities start enforcing the EAA in June 2025. Penalties include:

Fines—ranging from €250,000(France) up to €900,000+ (Netherlands), and even higher in some nations. In addition, non-compliance can result in removal of non-conforming products or services from the EU market.
Damaged Reputation: Exclusionary or frustrating digital experiences erode user trust, fueling negative reviews and customer churn.
Lost Revenue: Blocked market access and abandoned conversions impact your bottom line.
Operational Inefficiency: Rushed, reactive fixes drive up costs and create technical debt you’ll pay for again and again.

What Does an EAA-Compliant, Accessible Digital Platform Look Like?

Seamless keyboard and screen reader navigation—from browsing products to completing transactions.
High-contrast, readable design with clear structure, headings, and alt text for all non-text content.
Predictable layouts and visible calls-to-action.
Form validation and instructions usable by everyone—including users with cognitive or motor disabilities.
Accessible documents and multimedia: PDFs, images, video captions, and transcripts.
Interoperability with screen readers, voice assistants, and other assistive technologies.

For example: A bank’s mobile app lets a customer review transactions, pay bills, and contact support—whether using a screen reader, voice controls, or keyboard-only navigation. A travel website enables seamless search and booking, with straightforward, accessible forms and clear booking confirmations.

What Are the Practical Steps to Achieve EAA Compliance in Digital Products?

Phase	Key Activities
Audit & Gap Analysis	Use tools like Lighthouse or WAVE to assess your current accessibility standing. Engage a professional team to manually test usability with assistive tech.
Prioritization	Address high-impact touchpoints first—forms, multimedia, dynamic content, documents
Remediation & Testing	Update code/design, then retest, including with assistive tech and real users
Accessibility Statement	Publicly declare compliance scope, known issues, and contact points for feedback (essential)
Governance & Training	Integrate accessibility into style guides, upskill teams, assign champions, schedule reviews
Continuous Monitoring	Regular audits, update with new WCAG/EN 301 549 revisions, establish feedback loops

Which Tools and Testing Methods Help Ensure EAA Compliance?

Leverage both automated and manual testing methods to achieve compliance.

Automated Tools: Use axe, WAVE, and Lighthouse for quick scans andinsights.
Assistive Testing: Validate with real-world users using technologies like NVDA (Windows), VoiceOver (Mac), and TalkBack (Android).
Plugins: Accessibility plugins, like Stark, make it easier for design teams to address visual gaps during prototyping stages.
Document Accessibility: Prepare downloadable PDFs with Allyant or similar tools to provide compatibility with screen readers.

Make Accessibility Your Competitive Edge

Accessible design under the EAA isn’t just about risk mitigation—it’s a major driver for:

Market Expansion: Tap into more than 100 million Europeans with disabilities or age-related limitations, plus countless others with temporary or situational barriers.
SEO and CX Boost: Accessible sites are favored by search engines and deliver smoother, faster, and more reliable customer journeys for all users.
Brand Trust & Loyalty: Demonstrate transparency and commitment through public Accessibility Statements, building credibility and winning long-term customer trust.
EU Market Access: Avoid the business risk of barred entry—non-conforming products may be removed from the EU market.
Innovation Catalyst: Accessibility fuels features that benefit everyone: focus-first navigation, voice controls, responsive interfaces, and more.

Next Steps: Ready, Steady, Audit

A professional accessibility audit provides a clear path to compliance and beyond.

What it includes:

Design Review – Identify visual and structural gaps in your UI.
Code & Content Audit – Highlight fixes for technical and editorialaccessibility barriers.
Workflow Enhancement – Integrate accessibility into your development and QAcycles.
Tailored Roadmap – Receive prioritized actions based on effortand impact.

Align your teams early, and use ongoing monitoring to adapt to WCAG and EN 301 549 updates.

Book a comprehensive UI/UX Accessibility Audit & EAA Assessment.

Let’s shape a digital world where everyone belongs—and where your business leads the way.