Did you know there are over 135 million people with disabilities in Europe? Many face challenges navigating websites and finding what they need. That’s why the EU requires you to make your website EAA compliant – ensuring it’s accessible to everyone.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to make your website compliant, what could happen if you don’t, and why compliance is totally worth it. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to meet EAA standards and make your site accessible to everyone.
If your business offers products or services in the EU, you’ll need to comply with EAA website regulations – even if you’re based outside the EU. This applies to any website serving EU customers or providing digital services accessible to EU residents.
There are some exceptions to EAA compliance, such as microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and annual revenues below €2 million. But even if this applies to you, we recommend making your website accessible to people with disabilities.
To make your website EAA compliant, you’ll need to follow WCAG 2.1 guidelines at Level AA, as these are the standards required for EAA compliance. Once that’s done, just add an accessibility statement to your site, and voilà – you’re EAA-compliant.
Don’t worry; we’ll walk you through the steps in detail below.
Note that we mentioned WCAG 2.1 because it’s the standard referenced in EN 301 549. Since the EAA doesn’t explicitly specify a standard, it’s recommended to follow the latest version, WCAG 2.2, as a safe bet and to future-proof your compliance.
Kick off your EAA compliance journey with an automated accessibility audit of your website. This helps you spot straightforward WCAG violations right away. Fixing these issues will bring you one step closer to full EAA compliance.
To run an automated accessibility audit of your website, you can use WebYes. It’s free and designed for the average user, so you can easily handle the audit on your own. Just enter your website URL, and the tool takes care of the rest.
Once the scan’s done, you’ll get a list of accessibility issues holding your website back from WCAG compliance. Resolve these issues, and your website will be partially EAA-compliant – which is not enough, but it’s still a great first step.
Automated tools alone can’t make your website fully WCAG-compliant. To achieve full compliance, you’ll need a manual audit to catch the issues that automated tools miss. This isn’t something you can do on your own – you’ll need an expert to handle it for you.
Thankfully, WebYes makes manual audits easier for you. The tool flags everything that needs a manual review, so you only need to share those specific items with an expert. There are plenty of agencies, like Sweans, that can handle manual testing for you.
After the audit, the agency might fix the issues for you or just provide suggestions for your web developer – it all depends on the service you choose. Pick what works best for you. Either way, once the issues are fixed, your website will be fully EAA-compliant.
The final step is to publish an accessibility statement on your website, declaring that you’re EAA-compliant. This statement highlights your commitment to accessibility and informs users about the steps you’ve taken to meet WCAG standards.
Include details like the level of compliance achieved (e.g., WCAG 2.1 Level AA), any known limitations, and contact information for users needing assistance. It’s a transparent way to build trust with your audience and show your dedication to inclusivity.
Creating an accessibility statement is easier than you might think. A quick Google search will show you plenty of free tools to help. We recommend using W3C’s accessibility statement generator as a reliable option. Acquia Optimize is another great choice.
The EAA allows each member state to decide on penalties for non-compliance, but the commission sets clear guidelines to establish limits. According to the EAA:
“Penalties shall take into account the extent of the non-compliance, including its seriousness, and the number of units of non-complying products or services concerned, as well as the number of persons affected.”
Essentially, this means that the severity of penalties is determined by several factors, including how serious the non-compliance is, the number of people affected, the overall size of the company, and the steps the company has taken to resolve the issues.
Here are some penalties you could face for EAA non-compliance (but not limited to):
In short, non-compliance with the EAA can cost you money and hurt your brand reputation – and let’s be honest, that’s never good for business.
It is worth noting that the EAA includes “alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.” This basically means authorities may notify businesses and give them time to fix issues before imposing penalties. It’s a fair chance to address compliance gaps.
EAA compliance, or making your website WCAG-compliant, comes with several benefits:
Sure, audits – both automated and manual – might cost you a little upfront, but compliance pays off in the long run. You’ll attract more customers, rank higher on search engines, and build a better reputation. It’s a win-win.
EAA compliance isn’t a one-and-done deal – it’s an ongoing process. Regular website audits are essential to ensure you stay compliant with EAA and WCAG standards. Tools like WebYes can make this easier by helping you audit and monitor your site regularly.
But don’t think of EAA compliance as just a legal box to check. See it as a way to make your website accessible to everyone, including people with disabilities. It’s about creating an inclusive experience that benefits everyone.
Article by
Melwyn holds a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science and has been writing professionally for over 4 years. He has a strong background in SEO and is certified in web accessibility from the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). When he's not writing about website optimisation, you can find him enjoying a game of FIFA or exploring the open world of GTA.
