The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is EU Directive (EU) 2019/882 on the accessibility requirements for products and services.
Since 28 June 2025, many digital offers in all member states must be accessible.
What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The EAA harmonises accessibility rules across the European single market.
Each member state has transposed it into national law, Germany for example with the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG).
Its goal is that people with disabilities and older people can use products and services without help from others.
What Are the Benefits of EAA Compliance for Companies?
Common requirements spare companies from different rules in every country and make selling across the EU easier.
Accessible offers also reach a large audience: around one in four adults in the EU lives with some form of disability.
Clear structure, good contrast and simple operation help all users and often improve visibility in search engines as well.
Products and Services Affected by the EU Accessibility Act
Covered products include computers, smartphones, tablets, self-service terminals, e-book readers and routers.
The act applies to these products whether they are sold online or in shops.
Scope of Services Covered by the EAA
Services covered include e-commerce, consumer banking, electronic communications, e-books and the websites and apps of passenger transport.
Micro-enterprises that provide services are exempt.
What Does Digital Accessibility in the EU Mean in Practice?
Websites, apps and online shops must work with a keyboard, screen readers and magnification.
Text needs sufficient contrast, images need text alternatives and forms need clear labels and error messages.
The whole path to a purchase, from the basket to the payment, must work without barriers.
What Is the Deadline For Implementing the Accessibility Act?
Member states had to transpose the directive by 28 June 2022, and it has applied since 28 June 2025.
Existing service contracts have a transition period until 2030, and self-service terminals already in use may stay until the end of their service life, for no more than 20 years.
Minimum Technical Requirements for EAA Compliance
The technical requirements follow the principles perceivable, operable, understandable and robust.
The benchmark is the harmonised standard EN 301 549, which adopts WCAG 2.1 level AA for web content.
Accessibility Act Implementation: Accessible CAPTCHAs
A form is only accessible if its spam protection is accessible too.
Picture puzzles and audio tasks exclude many people.
CDPCaptcha works without puzzles: the browser solves a computational task in the background, the state is announced to screen readers and the button can be reached with the keyboard.
What Penalties and Sanctions Can Be Imposed for Non-Compliance with the EAA?
Member states set the penalties;
they must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
Authorities can order corrections and have offers withdrawn from the market.
In Germany, fines of up to 100,000 euros are possible.
Conclusion: Implement the European Accessibility Act, Strengthen Inclusion
The EAA makes accessibility mandatory for many companies in the EU.
Checking your website, your forms and your spam protection early avoids penalties and opens your offer to everyone.