Web Accessibility in EAA – A Complete Guide

Web accessibility is no longer just good practice. It is now a legal requirement under the European Accessibility Act (EAA). The law aims to make websites, apps, and digital services usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.

If you run a website that serves people in the EU, this guide is for you. It explains who the EAA applies to, what the key deadlines are, and how you can make your website compliant. You will also find practical tips, tools, and resources to help you get started.

Web Accessibility and Why It Matters

Web accessibility is about making the web, including websites, web apps, and digital content, usable for everyone, regardless of ability or situation. It focuses on removing barriers that prevent people from accessing information, completing tasks, or engaging fully online.

As more daily activities like shopping, learning, and banking move online, accessibility has become essential. When websites aren’t designed with it in mind, they exclude people, especially those with disabilities, from the digital spaces where we learn, connect, and carry out everyday tasks.

This exclusion affects a significant number of people.

According to the World Health Organisation (opens in a new tab), over 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability; about 16% of the global population. That means nearly one in six people may struggle to use the web if it’s not accessible.

This highlights why accessibility is important.

At the same time, it benefits many others beyond people with disabilities. For example, accessibility features help:

• Non-native speakers with simple language and clear structure.
• People in noisy or silent places with captions or transcripts.
• People using one hand or recovering from an injury with voice control or larger tap targets.

In short, web accessibility ensures that everyone can access and use digital content equally. It creates a fairer, more inclusive online experience where no one is left out, and everyone can engage with the web with ease and confidence.

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What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?

The European Accessibility Act turns the idea of web accessibility into law across the EU, ensuring that digital products and services are designed for everyone. It takes the core goal of accessibility, equal access for all, and makes it a legal requirement across member states.

The EAA aims to remove barriers that stop people, especially those with disabilities, from using websites, apps, and online services. It applies to areas like e-commerce, banking, e-books, transport, and communication tools, making sure these are easy to access and use.

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Which Websites Must Comply with the EAA?

Short answer: All consumer-facing websites serving people in the EU must comply with the EAA.

Long answer:

The EAA applies to consumer-facing websites that provide products or services in EU countries. It does not matter where your business is based. If Europeans can access your site to buy, book, or use services, the law applies.

The law specifically targets:

• E-commerce websites and online shops
• Banking and financial service websites
• Telecommunications service websites
• Transportation booking websites and apps (airlines, rail, bus, ferry, etc.)
• Streaming and digital media websites (video, music, etc.)
• Digital marketplace websites and app stores

There are a few exemptions under the EAA. Microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover under €2 million are excluded for now. Strictly B2B websites that serve only business clients and are not consumer-facing may also fall outside the scope.

Even if your business qualifies for an exemption, it’s still recommended to make your website accessible, since it improves usability, boosts SEO, and expands your audience.

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Are There Any Types of Web Content That Don’t Need to Comply with the EAA?

Yes, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) includes a few content exemptions.

The following types of content are not required to comply:

• Pre-recorded time-based media, such as videos or audio, published before 28 June 2025
• Office file formats like PDFs, Word, or Excel files published before 28 June 2025
• Online maps and mapping services, as long as key navigational information is also available in an accessible digital format.
• Third-party content that is neither funded, developed by, nor under the control of the website owner, such as embedded social media feeds, YouTube videos, ads, or maps.
• Archived websites and mobile apps that are not updated or edited after 28 June 2025

The EAA also includes a section on disproportionate burden. If an organisation believes that making some of its content accessible would create a serious financial or technical strain, such as affecting its ability to operate, it can request an exemption.

For example, a small organisation offering self-help eBooks might qualify if the cost of full compliance would genuinely threaten its ability to operate.

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What Happens if a Website Does Not Comply with the EAA?

When your website’s non-compliance is flagged, the monitoring authority will investigate and give you a deadline to fix the issues. If you resolve them within that timeframe, the matter usually ends there. But if you don’t, you could face fines and other penalties.

Fines generally fall into two categories:

• Non-compliance fines: One-time administrative penalties ranging from €5,000 to €20,000 per issue, depending on severity and the country.
• Daily penalty fines: Ongoing fines of up to €1,000 per day for violations that remain unresolved.

The exact amounts vary because each Member State sets its own system. For example:

Country	Maximum Fine / Penalty
Netherlands	Up to €900,000
Belgium	Up to €200,000 per breach, with business suspension possible for persistent violations
Italy	€5,000 to €40,000, or up to 5% of turnover in serious cases
Germany	Up to €100,000
Spain	€30,000 to €600,000, depending on severity

Penalties are not always financial. Authorities may also order corrective action, suspend digital services, or publicly name non-compliant companies. On top of this, inaccessible websites risk reputational damage and lost customers long before fines arrive.

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What Is the Deadline for Websites to Meet EAA Requirements?

The European Accessibility Act has been in force since 28 June 2025.

From that date, all new consumer-facing websites under its scope must be accessible from day one. Existing websites created before June 2025 have transitional leeway, but any new content (pages, media, files) published after that date must already be accessible.

If your site is still in transition, it’s necessary to show that you are actively working towards compliance. You can do this by publishing an accessibility statement. See our detailed guide on the EAA accessibility statement for practical tips on creating and publishing one.

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What Standard Must Websites Meet to Comply with the EAA?

Short answer: Websites must meet at least WCAG 2.1 Level AA to comply with the EAA.

Long answer:

The European Accessibility Act doesn’t set technical standards itself.

As the official fact sheet explains, the Directive tells “what” needs to be accessible in terms of functional requirements, but does not prescribe “how” to achieve it. This flexibility is to allow for innovation while ensuring the outcome is inclusive.

That said, EN 301 549 is widely recognised as the standard to follow under the EAA.

EN 301 549 is the official EU accessibility standard for digital products and services. It provides the detailed technical requirements needed to make websites, applications, and other digital tools accessible to all users, including people with disabilities.

For websites specifically, EN 301 549 references the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA. This makes WCAG the benchmark for compliance. In other words, if your website conforms to WCAG 2.1 Level AA or higher, you are complying with the EAA.

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How Can You Make Your Website EAA Compliant?

The EAA requires websites to be accessible to all users, including people with disabilities. While it does not dictate technical methods, compliance is best achieved by aligning with EN 301 549, which points to WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the standard for web accessibility.

Here’s a practical roadmap:

Step	What to Do	Tools You Can Use
1	Run automated testing to catch common issues like missing alt text, poor colour contrast, or bad heading structure.	WebYes
2	Do manual testing for things automation misses, such as keyboard-only navigation and screen reader compatibility.	Accessibility Insights (for guidance)
3	Conduct usability testing for accessibility with real users who rely on assistive technologies.	UserTesting
4	Fix the issues identified and re-test to validate improvements.	–
5	Publish an accessibility statement to show your EAA compliance status and how users can report problems.	WebYes Accessibility Statement Generator
6	Run regular scans on your website to catch new issues as content and features are added.	WebYes

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What Tools Can Help Test and Improve Website Accessibility?

There are plenty of tools out there to help you with website accessibility. Some help you identify accessibility issues, others assist with fixes or ongoing monitoring. Using a combination of these web accessibility tools ensures your website stays inclusive and compliant with the EAA.

Here are some tools that can help you test and maintain accessibility across your website:

Category	Purpose	Example
Accessibility Evaluation Tools	Scan websites for accessibility issues	WebYes
Document Accessibility Checkers	Test PDFs and Office documents for accessibility compliance	Mauve++
Colour Contrast Checkers	Verify that text and background colours meet WCAG standards	WebYes Contrast Checker
Alt Text Generators	Help you add meaningful alt text for images	AltTextGenerator.ai
WordPress Accessibility Plugins	Make on-the-fly code adjustments to improve website accessibility	Accessibility Toolkit
Screen Readers	Assistive technology that helps visually impaired users navigate content (you can use them for testing).	NVDA (Windows)
Accessibility Monitoring Tools	Continuously track accessibility issues and progress over time	WebYes Monitoring

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Can Accessibility Overlays Make a Website EAA Compliant?

No, accessibility overlays or widgets do not make a website EAA compliant.

These tools claim to instantly “fix” accessibility problems by adding features such as font resizing, contrast toggles, or text-to-speech. While they might seem helpful, they don’t address the actual accessibility issues in your site’s code or design.

In fact, in 2023, the European Disability Forum (EDF) issued a statement (opens in a new tab) warning that accessibility overlays don’t guarantee compliance with European legislation and should not be seen as a substitute for real accessibility.

The EAA requires accessibility to be built into your website’s design, structure, and code from the start. True compliance means ensuring all users, including people with disabilities, can access and interact with your content without relying on third-party add-ons.

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Wrapping Up

Since the European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into force, people have started taking web accessibility seriously. It has pushed businesses to make accessibility a core part of how they design and maintain their websites.

If you haven’t started yet, now is the perfect time. You don’t need to do everything at once. Just begin. Start by running a scan, fixing what you can, and building from there. Each step makes your website more inclusive, easier to use, and closer to EAA compliance.