European Accessibility Act (EAA)
The European Accessibility Act (EAA, Directive 2019/882) is an EU directive requiring that key digital products and services be accessible to people with disabilities. It came into full effect on June 28, 2025, and applies to any organisation operating in or targeting the EU market, regardless of where the company is headquartered.
§ 1 Definition
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is Directive (EU) 2019/882, adopted by the European Parliament in 2019, with a compliance deadline of June 28, 2025. It requires that a defined set of products and services meet accessibility requirements harmonised across all EU member states. The EAA references the European standard EN 301 549, which in turn incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA for web content and digital services. The Act covers websites, mobile applications, e-commerce platforms, banking services, e-books, audiovisual media, ticketing and check-in kiosks, smart devices, telecommunications services, and emergency services. Companies that fail to comply face enforcement actions including fines, market restrictions, and potential civil liability in EU member states.
§ 2 Who the EAA applies to
The EAA applies to any business, organisation, or public body that provides products or services in the EU market, regardless of where the company is registered. This includes US-based companies that sell to EU consumers, e-commerce platforms that ship to EU addresses, SaaS products with EU users, and hardware manufacturers selling smart devices in Europe. Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover under 2 million EUR) are exempt from some requirements, but not all member states have implemented this exemption uniformly. The EAA does not apply to organisations with fewer than 10 employees.
§ 3 Scope of covered products and services
The EAA covers a broad range of digital and physical products and services. This includes consumer banking and financial services, e-commerce websites and mobile apps, e-books and e-reader software, audiovisual media services (streaming platforms), passenger transport services (air, rail, bus, maritime), telecommunications services (phone, messaging, internet), emergency communication services, ticketing and check-in kiosks, and smart devices with user interfaces (smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, ATMs, payment terminals). The scope is deliberately broad to create a cohesive digital accessibility standard across all EU member states.
§ 4 Compliance obligations and penalties
Under the EAA, organisations must ensure that their products and services meet the accessibility requirements defined in Annex I of the directive. This includes providing accessibility information to users (how the product or service meets requirements, how to use accessibility features), maintaining conformity documentation, and handling user feedback and complaints. Penalties vary by member state but can include fines, injunctions requiring product removal or service suspension, and being barred from public procurement. The directive requires member states to establish effective, proportionate, and dissuasive penalties for non-compliance.
§ 5 Common questions
- Q. Does the EAA apply to US companies?
- A. Yes. If your company sells digital products or services to EU consumers, you must comply. The EAA has extraterritorial reach: it applies to any organisation placing products or providing services on the EU market, regardless of where the company is based. US e-commerce companies, SaaS providers, and hardware manufacturers with EU customers are within scope.
- Q. What technical standard does the EAA require?
- A. The EAA references EN 301 549, the European standard for ICT accessibility. EN 301 549 currently incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the web and mobile accessibility benchmark. The next revision is expected to align with WCAG 2.2. In practice, building to WCAG 2.2 AA is the safest strategy.
- Q. The June 2025 deadline has passed. What should I do now?
- A. The deadline has passed, but enforcement is phased. If you have not yet achieved compliance, begin with an audit immediately, then prioritise remediation of critical barriers (keyboard navigation, screen reader support, colour contrast, form labels). Proactive compliance efforts are viewed favourably by regulators even when not yet complete.
- The EAA is an EU directive requiring digital accessibility, effective June 28, 2025.
- Applies to any company operating in or selling to the EU, regardless of headquarters.
- References EN 301 549, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA.
- Covers e-commerce, banking, streaming, e-books, kiosks, and more.
- Penalties include fines, market restrictions, and procurement exclusion.
The EAA deadline is here. Atomic Glue helps EU-facing organisations achieve and maintain compliance through full-context remediation, not overlays. We audit against EN 301 549, fix structural issues, and provide ongoing monitoring. Get in touch for an EAA compliance readiness review. See also our Trust & Security page.
Get in touchThe European Accessibility Act (EAA, Directive 2019/882) is an EU directive requiring that key digital products and services be accessible to people with disabilities. It came into full effect on June 28, 2025, and applies to any organisation operating in or targeting the EU market, regardless of where the company is headquartered.
Category: Accessibility (also: Privacy)
Author: Atomic Glue Team
## Definition
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is Directive (EU) 2019/882, adopted by the European Parliament in 2019, with a compliance deadline of June 28, 2025. It requires that a defined set of products and services meet accessibility requirements harmonised across all EU member states. The EAA references the European standard EN 301 549, which in turn incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA for web content and digital services. The Act covers websites, mobile applications, e-commerce platforms, banking services, e-books, audiovisual media, ticketing and check-in kiosks, smart devices, telecommunications services, and emergency services. Companies that fail to comply face enforcement actions including fines, market restrictions, and potential civil liability in EU member states.
## Who the EAA applies to
The EAA applies to any business, organisation, or public body that provides products or services in the EU market, regardless of where the company is registered. This includes US-based companies that sell to EU consumers, e-commerce platforms that ship to EU addresses, SaaS products with EU users, and hardware manufacturers selling smart devices in Europe. Microenterprises (fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover under 2 million EUR) are exempt from some requirements, but not all member states have implemented this exemption uniformly. The EAA does not apply to organisations with fewer than 10 employees.
## Scope of covered products and services
The EAA covers a broad range of digital and physical products and services. This includes consumer banking and financial services, e-commerce websites and mobile apps, e-books and e-reader software, audiovisual media services (streaming platforms), passenger transport services (air, rail, bus, maritime), telecommunications services (phone, messaging, internet), emergency communication services, ticketing and check-in kiosks, and smart devices with user interfaces (smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, ATMs, payment terminals). The scope is deliberately broad to create a cohesive digital accessibility standard across all EU member states.
## Compliance obligations and penalties
Under the EAA, organisations must ensure that their products and services meet the accessibility requirements defined in Annex I of the directive. This includes providing accessibility information to users (how the product or service meets requirements, how to use accessibility features), maintaining conformity documentation, and handling user feedback and complaints. Penalties vary by member state but can include fines, injunctions requiring product removal or service suspension, and being barred from public procurement. The directive requires member states to establish effective, proportionate, and dissuasive penalties for non-compliance.
## Common questions
Q: Does the EAA apply to US companies?
A: Yes. If your company sells digital products or services to EU consumers, you must comply. The EAA has extraterritorial reach: it applies to any organisation placing products or providing services on the EU market, regardless of where the company is based. US e-commerce companies, SaaS providers, and hardware manufacturers with EU customers are within scope.
Q: What technical standard does the EAA require?
A: The EAA references EN 301 549, the European standard for ICT accessibility. EN 301 549 currently incorporates WCAG 2.1 Level AA as the web and mobile accessibility benchmark. The next revision is expected to align with WCAG 2.2. In practice, building to WCAG 2.2 AA is the safest strategy.
Q: The June 2025 deadline has passed. What should I do now?
A: The deadline has passed, but enforcement is phased. If you have not yet achieved compliance, begin with an audit immediately, then prioritise remediation of critical barriers (keyboard navigation, screen reader support, colour contrast, form labels). Proactive compliance efforts are viewed favourably by regulators even when not yet complete.
## Key takeaways
- The EAA is an EU directive requiring digital accessibility, effective June 28, 2025.
- Applies to any company operating in or selling to the EU, regardless of headquarters.
- References EN 301 549, which incorporates WCAG 2.1 AA.
- Covers e-commerce, banking, streaming, e-books, kiosks, and more.
- Penalties include fines, market restrictions, and procurement exclusion.
## Related entries
- [WCAG (2.1, 2.2)](atomicglue.co/glossary/wcag)
- [ADA Compliance](atomicglue.co/glossary/ada-compliance)
- [Section 508](atomicglue.co/glossary/section-508)
- [Accessibility (a11y)](atomicglue.co/glossary/accessibility)
Last updated July 2026. Permalink: atomicglue.co/glossary/european-accessibility-act