Is your website compliant with the European Accessibility Act?

The digital landscape is changing, and European legislation is adapting to these new realities. 

Starting June 28, 2025, many businesses will be required to ensure that their website or digital service complies with the new requirements, as the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into effect. 

Whether you run an online store, provide digital services, or manage an informational platform, accessibility is now a critical issue. Non-compliance can result in fines, depending on each country’s applicable laws, and prevent you from reaching a significant portion of your potential customers. 

What is the EAA and who does it apply to?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), also known as the European Accessibility Act (EU Directive 2019/882), is an important European Union directive aimed at harmonizing accessibility requirements for specific products and services across the EU. 

Its primary goal is to ensure that digital products and services are accessible to everyone, taking into account the needs of people with disabilities or other challenges. 

This represents a significant step forward compared to previous legislation, as accessibility requirements now extend beyond public entities to a wide range of private companies. 

If your business employs more than 10 people or has an annual turnover exceeding 2 million euros and serves customers in the European Union, it’s worth checking whether you fall within the scope of the legislation. 

Which services are affected?

• Websites and e-commerce platforms. 

• Online banking services and payment systems. 

• Travel and transportation booking websites. 

• Digital television and telecommunications services. 

• E-books, apps, and software. 

The EAA does not mandate a specific technical solution but sets general accessibility requirements. This means that your website should not rely on a single method of user interaction. 

The content must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and accessible to everyone, including those who use assistive technologies, such as screen readers or captions. 

Compliance with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1, Level AA, is a widely recognized benchmark for the accessibility of digital content and services. 

What happens if you don’t comply?

Fines for noncompliance vary by country and can be particularly high. 

In Italy, the maximum fine can reach €50,000, while other countries report even higher amounts, such as €600,000 in Spain and €500,000 in France. These amounts do not constitute a uniform upper limit for the entire EU. 

In addition to financial penalties, your business may face restrictions on product distribution, service suspensions, and negative impacts on your brand’s reputation, depending on the applicable legislation.

Accessibility isn’t just about avoiding fines—it’s an investment in the growth of your business.

Improving accessibility can boost your competitiveness and create new growth opportunities. 

• Increase in organic traffic: According to data cited in the original article, 66% of businesses report an increase in organic traffic of up to 50% after improving accessibility. 

• Greater customer loyalty: 82% of customers with disabilities reportedly prefer and remain more loyal to businesses that invest in accessibility. 

• Reducing lost opportunities: Inaccessible websites are estimated to result in losses of billions of euros annually, benefiting competitors. 

Accessibility isn’t just a technical requirement. It’s a way to improve the user experience, expand your audience, and strengthen the relationship of trust with your customers.

Your partner for compliance and more

Papaki has partnered with AccessiWay to make EAA compliance simpler and more flexible for businesses. 

Their solutions include: 

• Automated accessibility improvement features. 

• Support for compatibility with assistive technologies through artificial intelligence. 

• Compliance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA guidelines. 

• Continuous monitoring and legal support. 

Whether you’re preparing for EAA requirements or looking to reach a wider audience, you can make your business’s digital presence more accessible and ready for future developments.