European Accessibility Act (EAA)

Welcome to the European Accessibility Act (EAA) directive pages. Here you can find the official PDF of the Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services as a neatly arranged website. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is applicable as of June 28th, 2025 in all member states to harmonize accessibility laws across Europe. Should you find this website useful, feel free to support us by sharing the project.

Understanding the European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), enacted in 2019, represents a significant advancement in promoting inclusivity within the European Union (EU). This directive aims to standardize accessibility requirements across member states, ensuring that individuals with disabilities have equal access to a broad range of products and services. With the compliance deadline set for June 28, 2025, businesses operating in the EU must understand the EAA’s scope, requirements, and implications to align with its mandates effectively.

The EAA was introduced to address the inconsistencies in accessibility standards across EU countries. By harmonizing these standards, the Act seeks to eliminate barriers that hinder the free movement of accessible products and services within the internal market. This initiative not only benefits individuals with disabilities but also offers economic advantages by creating a unified framework for businesses.

Scope of the European Accessibility Act

The EAA encompasses a variety of products and services that are integral to daily life and have been identified as priorities for accessibility improvements. These include:​

  • Digital Services: E-commerce platforms, banking services, and electronic communications must be accessible to all users, ensuring that online transactions and communications are inclusive.​
  • Electronic Devices: Computers, operating systems, smartphones, and TV equipment related to digital television services are required to incorporate accessible features, facilitating usability for individuals with disabilities.​
  • Self-Service Terminals: ATMs, ticketing machines, and check-in kiosks must be designed to accommodate users with varying abilities, promoting independence in public spaces.​
  • Transportation Services: Accessibility requirements extend to services related to air, bus, rail, and waterborne passenger transport, ensuring that travel information and ticketing systems are usable by all passengers.
  • Audiovisual Media Services: Television broadcasts and related consumer equipment must provide features such as subtitles and audio descriptions to cater to diverse audiences.
  • E-Books: Digital publications should be compatible with assistive technologies, allowing individuals with visual impairments to access written content.​

By targeting these areas, the EAA aims to create a more inclusive society where individuals with disabilities can participate fully and independently.​

Compliance Timeline for the European Accessibility Act

EU member states were required to transpose the EAA into national law by June 28, 2022. The enforcement of these laws will commence on June 28, 2025, by which date businesses must ensure that their products and services comply with the established accessibility requirements.

Implications for Businesses

For businesses operating within the EU, adherence to the EAA is not merely a legal obligation but also an opportunity to tap into a broader market. By prioritizing accessibility, companies can enhance user experience, foster customer loyalty, and demonstrate corporate social responsibility. Non-compliance, on the other hand, may result in legal repercussions, financial penalties, and reputational damage.​

Steps Toward EAA Compliance

To align with the EAA, businesses should undertake the following measures:

  1. Conduct Accessibility Audits: Evaluate existing products and services to identify and address accessibility barriers.​
  2. Implement Necessary Modifications: Develop and execute a plan to rectify identified issues, ensuring that all offerings meet the EAA’s standards.
  3. Provide Staff Training: Educate employees about accessibility principles and best practices to foster an inclusive organizational culture.​
  4. Establish Feedback Mechanisms: Create channels for users to report accessibility challenges, facilitating continuous improvement.​
  5. Monitor and Update Compliance Efforts: Regularly review and update accessibility features to keep pace with technological advancements and evolving standards.​

The European Accessibility Act is a pivotal step toward creating an inclusive environment within the EU. By standardizing accessibility requirements, the EAA not only enhances the quality of life for individuals with disabilities but also presents businesses with an opportunity to innovate and expand their reach. As the 2025 compliance deadline approaches, proactive engagement with the EAA’s mandates will be essential for businesses aiming to thrive in an inclusive and competitive market.

European Accessibility Act | Articles by Chapter

Chapter 1  –  General provisions
Article 1  –  Subject matter
Article 2  –  Scope
Article 3  –  Definitions
Chapter 2  –  Accessibility requirements and free movement
Article 4  –  Accessibility requirements
Article 5  –  Existing Union law in the field of passenger transport
Article 6  –  Free movement
Chapter 3  –  Obligations of economic operators dealing with products
Article 7  –  Obligations of manufacturers
Article 8  –  Authorised representatives
Article 9  –  Obligations of importers
Article 10  –  Obligations of distributors
Article 11  –  Cases in which obligations of manufacturers apply to importers and distributors
Article 12  –  Identification of economic operators dealing with products
Chapter 4  –  Fundamental alteration of products or services and disproportionate burden to economic operators
Article 13  – Obligations of service providers
Chapter 5  –  Fundamental alteration of products or services and disproportionate burden to economic operators
Article 14  –  Fundamental alteration and disproportionate burden
Chapter 6  –  Harmonised standards and technical specifications of products and services
Article 15  –  Presumption of conformity
Chapter 7  –  Harmonised standards and technical specifications of products and services
Article 16  –  EU declaration of conformity of products
Article 17  –  General principles of the CE marking of products
Article 18  –  Rules and conditions for affixing the CE marking
Chapter 8  –  Market surveillance of products and Union safeguard procedure
Article 19  –  Market surveillance of products
Article 20  –  Procedure at national level for dealing with products not complying with the applicable accessibility requirements
Article 21  –  Union safeguard procedure
Article 22  –  Formal non-compliance
Chapter 9  –  Compliance of services
Article 23  –  Compliance of services
Chapter 10  –  Accessibility requirements in other Union acts
Article 24  –  Accessibility under other Union acts
Article 25  –  Harmonised standards and technical specifications for other Union acts
Chapter 11  –  Delegated acts, implementing powers and final provisions
Article 26  –  Exercise of the delegation
Article 27  –  Committee procedure
Article 28  –  Working Group
Article 29  –  Enforcement
Article 30  –  Penalties
Article 31  –  Transposition
Article 32  –  Transitional measures
Article 33  –  Report and review
Article 34  –  Entry into force and application
Article 35  –  This Directive is addressed to the Member States.
ANNEX I  –  ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES
Section I  –  General accessibility requirements related to all products covered by this directive in accordance with Article 2(1)
Section II  –  Accessibility requirements related to products in Article 2(1), except for the self-service terminals referred to in Article 2(1)(b)
Section III  –  General accessibility requirements related to all services covered by this Directive in accordance with Article 2(2)
Section IV  –  Additional accessibility requirements related to specific services
Section V  –  Specific accessibility requirements related to the answering of emergency communications to the single European emergency number ‘112’ by the most appropriate PSAP
Section VI  –  Accessibility requirements for features, elements or functions of products and services in accordance with Article 24(2)
Section VII  –  Functional performance criteria
ANNEX II  –  INDICATIVE NON-BINDING EXAMPLES OF POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO MEETING THE ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS IN ANNEX I
Section I  – Examples related to general accessibility requirements for all products covered by this directive in accordance with article 2(1)
Section II  –  Examples related to accessibility requirements for products in article 2(1), except for the self-service terminals referred to in article 2(1)(b)
Section III  –  Examples related to general accessibility requirements for all services covered by this directive in accordance with article 2(2)
Section IV  –  Examples related to additional accessibility requirements for specific services
ANNEX III
Accessibility requirements for the purpose of article 4(4) concerning the built environment where the services under the scope of this directive are provided
ANNEX IV
Conformity assessment procedure – products
ANNEX V
Information on services meeting accessibility requirements
ANNEX VI
Criteria for assessment of disproportionate burden