Compliance, Deadlines, and What Businesses Need to Do Now

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a game-changer for businesses operating in the European Union (EU). It mandates that key products and services meet accessibility standards to ensure equal access for people with disabilities. With compliance deadlines fast approaching, business owners and managers within the EU and international companies doing business in Europe must act now to align with these regulations.

This Article will cover:

• Who must comply with the EAA

• Which countries fall under the EAA

• The role of EN 301-549 and how it relates to WCAG and Section 508

• A detailed timeline to meet compliance

• How Accessiblü can assist with audits, consulting, and training to ensure compliance

What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?

The EAA is a directive adopted by the European Parliament in 2019, aiming to remove barriers that prevent individuals with disabilities from fully participating in society. The EAA requires businesses selling certain products and services in the EU market to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.

Who Must Comply?

The EAA applies to both EU-based businesses and non-EU businesses that sell products or services in the European market. It covers both the public and private sectors, including:

•Online services (e-commerce platforms, mobile apps)

• Banking services

• Transportation (ticketing and real-time travel information)

• E-books and e-readers

• Audio-visual media services

• ATMs, payment terminals, and self-service machines

• Telecommunication services and products

• Consumer computing hardware (smartphones, tablets, computers, etc.)

Countries Covered Under the EAA

All 27 EU Member States are legally required to implement and enforce the EAA. This includes:

1.Austria

2.Belgium

3.Bulgaria

4.Croatia

5.Cyprus

6.Czech Republic

7.Denmark

8.Estonia

9.Finland

10.France

11.Germany

12.Greece

13.Hungary

14.Ireland

15.Italy

16.Latvia

17.Lithuania

18.Luxembourg

19.Malta

20.Netherlands

21.Poland

22.Portugal

23.Romania

24.Slovakia

25.Slovenia

26.Spain

27.Sweden

Countries Not Covered Under the EAA

•United Kingdom (UK): Since Brexit, the UK is not bound by the EAA. However, businesses in the UK selling in the EU market must comply with the EAA requirements.

•Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein: These countries are part of the European Economic Area (EEA) but have their own accessibility laws.

Alternative Accessibility Laws in Non-EAA Countries

• United Kingdom (UK): The UK enforces The Equality Act 2010 and Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) Accessibility Regulations 2018, which are similar to WCAG 2.1 AA.

•Norway: Follows the Equality and Anti-Discrimination Act, which mandates WCAG compliance.

• Switzerland: Uses the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) to ensure accessibility.

Understanding EN 301-549 and its Relationship with WCAG & Section 508

The EAA references EN 301-549, the EU standard for digital accessibility that aligns with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).

How EN 301-549 Relates to WCAG and Section 508

To comply with the EAA, businesses must meet EN 301-549, which is largely based on WCAG 2.1 AA but also extends to hardware, software, and other ICT.

Standards

• WCAG 2.2 AA
  • Applies to web & mobile apps worldwide.
  • Required by most international accessibility laws.
• EN 301-549
  • Applies to the EU’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products/services.
  • Based on WCAG 2.1 & covers additional areas (software, hardware, documents).
• Section 508
  • Applies to U.S. federal agencies & contractors.
  • Requires WCAG 2.0 AA for digital compliance.
  • WCAG 2.2 AA meets and exceeds WCAG 2.0 AA.

EAA Compliance Timeline

The European Accessibility Act must be transposed into national law by June 28, 2025, meaning businesses need to start preparing now.

Step-by-Step Compliance Plan

• January 2025
  • Conduct an initial Accessibility Gap Analysis.
  • Accessiblü provides audit & testing services to evaluate your website, apps, and digital content.
• April 2025
  • Start remediating non-compliant elements.
  • Accessiblü’s expert developers can help fix WCAG 2.2 issues on your site or app.
• June 2025
  • Train employees on accessibility best practices.
  • Accessiblü offers customized training for web teams, marketing teams, and IT professionals.
• December 2025
  • Implement ongoing monitoring & testing.
  • Accessiblü provides managed accessibility operations for continuous compliance.
• June 2026
  • Full compliance deadline for large businesses.
  • Accessiblü can help with final accessibility validation and reporting.
• June 2028
  • Full compliance deadline for small businesses.
  • Ongoing compliance reviews and maintenance support from Accessiblü.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Non-compliance with the EAA could result in:

•Fines and legal action from EU regulators

• Inaccessibility lawsuits

• Loss of market access in the EU

• Reputation damage

What Should Businesses Do Now?

• Assess your current level of accessibility.
  • Run WCAG 2.2 and EN 301-549 audits for your websites, mobile apps, and services.
• Prioritize accessibility fixes.
  • Work on critical compliance areas first (e.g., forms, navigation, color contrast, keyboard navigation).
• Train your teams.
  • Ensure your developers, designers, and content creators understand accessibility best practices.
• Adopt a long-term accessibility strategy
  • Accessibility is an ongoing process, not a one-time fix.
• Consider outsourcing compliance monitoring.
  • Partner with accessibility experts like Accessiblü.
• Get professional audits, testing, training, and remediation services.
  • Ensure ongoing compliance with the latest standards.

How Accessiblü Can Help

Accessiblü offers expert accessibility services to help your business meet EAA compliance deadlines:

• Accessibility Gap Analysis (Where you, what needs done, & planning).
• Audits & WCAG Testing (for EN 301-549 compliance).
• Consulting & Strategy Development (tailored for your business).
• Developer & Marketing Training (to prevent future accessibility issues).
• Live & Automated Monitoring (for ongoing compliance).
• Remediation & Fixes (for websites, mobile apps, documents, and more).

🚀 Start your accessibility journey today!

Visit www.accessiblu.com for more information on compliance support.