European Accessibility Act (EAA)
The European Accessibility Act is translated into all official languages of the European Union.
What is it?
- The European Accessibility Act is a directive from the European Union that aims to improve the functioning of the internal market for accessible products and services, by removing barriers created by divergent rules in Member States.
- It becomes law in all EU member states in June 2025.
- Unlike WCAG, it covers a much broader scope since it covers hardware, software, etc.
- The European Commission created a video to summarise it. Watch the video about the European Accessibility Act.
Who is concerned?
- Any business that wishes to trade in the EU, wherever it is based, public or private (manufacturers, importers, distributors, and service providers of digital interface creation or terminal interfaces).
- Small companies with fewer than ten employees and a turnover of less than 2 million euros are not concerned.
Why study and follow the EAA?
- Businesses benefit from having a common set of rules within the EU, which should facilitate easier cross-border trade.
- It should allow a greater market for companies providing accessible products and services (more accessible products and services in the market and competitive prices).
- There should be fewer barriers within the EU and more job opportunities as well.
What services and products are covered by the Act?
Products
- Computers and operating systems
- Smartphones and other communication devices
- TV equipment related to digital television services
- ATMs and payment terminals (e.g., card payment machines in supermarkets)
- E-readers
- Ticketing and check-in machines
Services
- Phone services
- Banking services
- E-commerce
- Websites, mobile services, electronic tickets and all sources of information for air, bus, rail and waterborne transport services
- E-books
- Access to Audio-visual media services (AVMS)
- Calls to the European emergency number 112
Each product or service is covered by specific standards, which identify voluntary requirements and must be met for that product or service to be legally traded inside the EU.
How is it being implemented?
- Each member state must publish their own individual laws and detailed regulations.
- They must show who is responsible for its implementation and lay out the monitoring processes and penalties for non-compliance.