The European Accessibility Act: A Timely Reminder for Businesses to Prepare

As the winter months drag on, the prospect of June 28, 2025 may seem like a distant horizon. However, the deadline to comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) is looming, and businesses must take immediate action to avoid exclusion from the European Union market.

The EAA: A New Era of Accessibility

The EAA’s remit extends beyond European organizations to all companies selling into the European Union via e-commerce platforms. The act also covers various technologies, including computers, operating systems, ATMs, ticketing systems, television and telephony services, e-books, and transportation services.

Preparation is Key

Compliance will require diligent in-house accessibility audits based on version 2.1 of the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines as a minimum starting point. Business leaders must grasp the core principles of the EAA to ensure success.

Insights from Digital Accessibility Thought Leaders

At the end of last month, Level Access, a premier digital accessibility firm, published its “Sixth Annual State of Digital Accessibility Report.” The U.K.-based Business Disability Forum’s Global Conference featured a panel discussion on the EAA, offering valuable insights from digital accessibility experts.

The EAA: A New Era of Compliance

Neil Milliken, Vice President & Global Head of Accessibility & Digital Inclusion at Atos (UK), emphasized the EAA’s difference in the market access landscape: “Conformance with the European standard is now a requirement under the European Accessibility Act, and that has been linked to CE certification. If you want to sell that product inside the European single market, you need that CE certification. If you’re not accessible, you don’t get the CE certificate, so then you are precluded from selling into the entirety of the market.”

Prepare Now for the EAA

Level Access’s report found that 73% of survey respondents believe the EAA applies to their organization, but only 55% have started taking action to ensure compliance. Corbb O’Connor, Director of Accessibility Advocacy at Level Access, warns against delaying action: “A few years ago, many organizations were scrambling to meet the deadline for compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. This deadline was in December, and many product teams didn’t take notice until August. When they did, they realized their roadmaps were suddenly in jeopardy, their teams didn’t have the proper training, and they simply weren’t ready to meet their legal obligations. With the EAA enforcement deadline looming, don’t get caught in the same trap.”

Ensure Team Alignment

Sabine Lobnig, Director of Communications at Mobile & Wireless Forum (Austria), stressed the importance of collaboration between market access and accessibility teams: “It’s very important to get your market access people and your accessibility people together. One of the challenges we’ve had with this legislation from the very beginning is that we have two different groups of people who don’t know much about each other at all. One deals with market access legislation, and then we have accessibility, which is a different skill set and a different area of knowledge. They need to talk to each other. They need to exchange ideas and ideally, approach this hand in hand.”

Go Beyond Compliance

Christopher Patnoe, Google UK’s Head of EMEA Accessibility and Disability Inclusion, emphasized the importance of going beyond mere compliance: “Not everyone can staff up a new team or train people. There are companies out there who are willing to help but they tend to be more compliance-focused as opposed to innovation and experience-focused. It will help you get to a point where you might not get sued or kicked out of the EU but it won’t make your product better. Personally, I don’t recommend that as the only solution. Maybe it could help you get started and then you train up your staff so you can move things forward and make better products for everyone.”

Conclusion

The EAA’s deadline is approaching rapidly, and businesses must prioritize compliance to avoid exclusion from the European Union market. By understanding the EAA’s remit, preparing for compliance, and ensuring team alignment, companies can ensure success. As the game is still early, those who forge ahead successfully will likely combine precision in mastering the technical details with a keen understanding of the underlying purpose.

FAQs

• What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a new law that aims to improve accessibility in the European Union by requiring organizations to make their products and services more accessible to people with disabilities.

• What is the deadline for compliance with the EAA?

The deadline for compliance with the EAA is June 28, 2025.

• What is the impact of non-compliance with the EAA?

Non-compliance with the EAA can result in exclusion from the European Union market.

• How can businesses prepare for the EAA?

Businesses can prepare for the EAA by conducting accessibility audits, training their teams, and developing a plan to ensure compliance with the law.

• What is the role of accessibility teams in EAA compliance?

Accessibility teams play a crucial role in EAA compliance, as they are responsible for ensuring that products and services are accessible to people with disabilities.