Getting EAA Ready: Understanding the EU’s New Accessibility Standards

The EAA is “a directive 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,” according to the European Commission. As a landmark piece of legislation, the EAA establishes common accessibility requirements across all 27 EU member states.

The EAA sets functional accessibility requirements, meaning it focuses on what needs to be accessible rather than setting specific technical solutions. This approach allows organizations to innovate while ensuring their products and services work for everyone.

Notably, the EAA extends beyond EU borders, applying to all public and private organizations that serve the EU market. The legislation applies to businesses with at least 10 employees and annual revenue above approximately $2.1 million USD (€2 million), though some member states have set their own specific thresholds and exemptions.

Covered Products and Services

The European Parliament formally approved the European Accessibility Act on March 13, 2019, establishing the first comprehensive accessibility legislation of its kind across the European Union. The directive was designed to complement existing EU accessibility legislation while expanding requirements to private sector organizations.

According to the European Commission’s fact sheet, the EAA encompasses a range of products and services, including: 

Digital Services:

• E-commerce websites and mobile applications
• Banking services, including online and mobile banking platforms
• E-books and digital reading materials
• Audiovisual media services and broadcasting platforms

Technology Products:

• Computers, smartphones, and operating systems
• ATMs, ticketing machines, and self-service terminals
• Television equipment and related digital services

Transportation Services:

• Air, bus, rail, and waterborne passenger transport services

The EAA builds on established accessibility principles, requiring products and services to be Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust (known as POUR). These principles, which form the foundation of digital accessibility, ensure that:

• Perceivable: Information must be presentable in ways users can perceive
• Operable: Interface components must be operable by all users
• Understandable: Information and UI operation must be understandable
• Robust: Content must be robust enough to work with various assistive technologies

EAA Enforcement and Compliance 

The EAA establishes a framework where enforcement is managed at the national level. Each EU Member State determines penalties for noncompliance and designates enforcement bodies, with the EAA requiring that penalties be “effective, proportionate, and dissuasive.”

According to the legislation, EU Member States must ensure adequate means exist for compliance enforcement under national law, including access to national courts and competent administrative bodies for consumers and advocacy groups.

Organizations may face legal action from individuals or advocacy groups representing people with disabilities, potentially resulting in lawsuits, court orders, or settlements requiring accessibility improvements.

The deadline for compliance is June 28, 2025. Organizations in the EU and those abroad that serve EU customers should have a plan to meet this deadline. 

Need help? Reach out for a demo of YuJa’s suite of accessibility and compliance solutions.