Preparing for the European Accessibility Act (EAA)

What is the EAA?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a major piece of legislation rolling out across all EU member states. Its goal is to ensure digital products and services are accessible to everyone, including disabled people. While the act is focused on the EU, its reach will extend well beyond Europe. Any business with consumers in the EU may be affected. In the long run, it’s a step towards improving accessibility on a global scale.

What is covered in the EAA?

The EAA applies to a wide range of digital services and products, including:

• Websites and mobile apps
• E-commerce platforms
• Banking services
• ATMs and payment terminals
• E-books and e-readers
• Public transport ticketing and information
• Smartphones, computers, and smart TVs
• Customer service systems (like chatbots and phone lines)

What steps should I be taking?

The EAA applies to businesses operating within EU member states — and that includes businesses outside the EU, like those in the UK or US, if they have consumers in the EU. Importantly, it doesn’t just apply to public sector organisations; private companies are included too.

So what should you and your business be doing to prepare? Here are five practical steps to get started:

Assess your products & services
Start by reviewing what you offer and how people interact with it — especially anything digital. If you sell to or operate in the EU, this includes websites, apps, and customer support.
You should also check whether you fall within the scope of the EAA. Some microenterprises — typically those with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet under €2 million — may be excluded. But this doesn’t apply in every case, especially if your services are considered essential or widely used.

Accessibility audits
Run a detailed audit of your digital platforms to identify barriers for disabled users. The EAA doesn’t reference specific standards, but its requirements closely align with WCAG 2.1 — the most widely used international standard for web accessibility.
At Squee, we carry out clear, practical audits that highlight where things need improving and help you take the right next steps.

Prepare an accessibility strategy
Set out how you’ll meet accessibility standards over time. Include priorities, responsibilities, and how progress will be tracked.

Introduce accessibility training
Make sure your team knows what accessibility means in practice — from designers and developers to content creators and customer support.

Why is the EAA a good thing?

The EAA is a positive step forward, not just for disabled people, but for businesses too.

For businesses, it introduces a shared set of accessibility requirements across the EU and beyond. That means less time spent navigating different national laws and fewer barriers to trading in new markets. It also reduces the long-term cost of compliance by setting clear, consistent expectations from the outset.

There’s also a commercial upside. As more disabled consumers actively seek out accessible products and services, businesses that meet these needs can grow their customer base and strengthen their brand reputation.

For disabled people — and for older people who often face similar barriers — the EAA promises better access to everyday technology and essential services. It encourages inclusive design from the ground up, which can lead to more choice, lower prices, and even new job opportunities in accessibility-related sectors.

Will the EAA affect me?

If your business sells products or services to consumers in the EU — even if you’re based in the UK — the EAA may apply to you. It’s not just for public sector organisations or large corporations. Many private companies, including SMEs, fall within its scope.

The rules mainly apply to businesses offering digital services, such as websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, and customer support tools. If your digital offering is used by people in the EU, it’s worth reviewing where you stand.

There is an exemption for microenterprises (usually those with fewer than 10 employees and a turnover or balance sheet under €2 million), but even then, there are exceptions — especially if your services are considered essential or widely used.

Even if you’re not directly affected right now, aligning with accessibility best practices puts you in a stronger position for the future. It helps you stay ahead of upcoming legislation, improves user experience for everyone, and sends a clear message that your business values inclusivity.

When is the EAA coming into force?

The EAA is already live.

As of 28 June 2025, all new digital products and services covered by the legislation must meet the accessibility requirements. That includes websites, apps, e-commerce platforms, ticket machines, banking services, and more.

If you already offer these services and they were launched before this date, you’ve got until 28 June 2030 to make sure they’re accessible. But any updates or new features added from now on will need to comply straight away.

Are there standards I need to adopt or aim for?

The EAA is a directive, which means it doesn’t point to a single standard. Instead, each EU member state sets its own rules — but most are adopting EN 301 549, a European standard that builds on WCAG 2.1 AA.

WCAG 2.1 AA is the most widely used framework for web accessibility, and it’s a solid foundation to work from. It covers key areas like text contrast, keyboard access, screen reader compatibility, and more. Many countries are also referencing it directly in their national regulations.

That said, EN 301 549 goes a bit further. It includes accessibility requirements not just for websites and apps, but also for things like PDFs, chat systems, ticket machines, and payment terminals.

If you’re aiming for long-term compliance, it’s worth keeping an eye on WCAG 2.2 AA as well. It builds on 2.1 and adds extra guidance around mobile use, target sizes, and cognitive accessibility.

At Squee, we help businesses work towards these standards in a clear, manageable way, focusing on what matters most for the people using your site or service.

What will happen if I’m not compliant?

Penalties for failing to meet the EAA vary depending on where you operate, but they can be serious. Different EU member states are responsible for enforcement, and in some cases the consequences go beyond fines.

Here’s what non-compliance could mean for your business:

Fines and enforcement
EU regulators can issue financial penalties, and the level of enforcement depends on the country. In some cases, such as in Ireland, non-compliance could even result in prison sentences for serious breaches.

Loss of customers
If your products or services aren’t accessible, some people simply won’t be able to use them. That means missed sales, limited reach, and fewer returning customers.

Exclusion from procurement opportunities
Many public and private sector organisations are starting to require EAA compliance from their suppliers. Non-compliant businesses may be blocked from bidding for contracts or tenders.

Costly disruption
Retrofitting accessibility at the last minute can be expensive and time-consuming. Planning early gives you more control and avoids rushed fixes that interrupt your service.

Reputational damage
Inaccessible services can lead to negative publicity and a loss of trust, especially if customers or advocacy groups raise concerns publicly.

Legal action
Organisations may face legal complaints from individuals or disability rights groups. This can result in court orders or enforced changes to your digital services.

Can I just use an accessibility overlay?

In short, overlays aren’t a reliable solution.

Accessibility overlays are tools that sit on top of your website and claim to automatically fix issues. They usually offer things like screen reader modes, text resizing, or colour adjustments. While they might sound like a quick fix, they often don’t address the real problems.

Overlays do not improve the underlying code of your site, which is where most accessibility issues are found. That means many users, especially those relying on assistive technology, will still face barriers. In some cases, overlays can even cause new problems by interfering with screen readers or keyboard navigation.

There is growing criticism of overlays from disabled users and accessibility professionals. Relying on one could still leave your business non-compliant with the EAA and could harm your reputation with the people you are trying to support.

The better approach is to build accessibility into your website from the start. This involves reviewing your design, content, and code to make sure everything works for everyone.

How can Squee help me?

We can help in a few ways.

Squee is a web design and development company that champions accessibility and inclusive design. We follow WCAG guidelines to make sure the websites we work on are easier to use for everyone.

Here’s how we can support your business:

Ongoing accessibility support
Through our support packages, we can help you stay on top of accessibility over time, fixing new issues, answering questions, and keeping things up to date.

Run an accessibility review
We’ll look at your current website and highlight anything that might need fixing to meet the EAA.

Help with improvements
If your website needs changes, we can help you make the updates needed to improve accessibility.

Support new projects
If you’re starting fresh, we can design and build your website to meet accessibility standards from the start.