The European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025 is an EU directive that sets out minimum accessibility standards for a wide range of products and services, with the goal of improving access for people with disabilities.
This article specifically examines how the Act applies to digital assets in the UK.
What is the purpose of the EAA 2025?
The directive’s objective is to create a consistent approach to accessibility across EU member states, making it easier for businesses to comply and for consumers to access both goods and services. The Act applies to both physical and digital offerings, including computers, mobile devices, banking services, e-commerce platforms, and more.
When did the EAA2025 come into force?
The Act came into effect on 28 June 2025.
Where does the European Accessibility Act apply?
As the EAA is an EU directive, it is not directly enforceable within UK domestic law, however UK websites and digital services aimed at EU users must comply with its requirements. If EU customers can browse, buy, download or sign‑up through your site or app, you’re in scope, even post‑Brexit.
Who does the European Accessibility Act apply to in the UK?
The EAA will likely affect UK businesses that:
- Have EU-based users, customers, or clients
- Offer digital goods or services used by the public
- Have EU-facing marketing, language, or shipping options
For example:
- UK E-commerce retailers selling to the EU, e. you sell goods to consumers in the EU via your website or app, your digital platform must meet accessibility standards (e.g., readable by screen readers, alternative text for images, keyboard navigable).
- UK financial services operating in the EU, e. an online mortgage broker serving EU clients, digital banking services, insurance platforms, and payment systems are directly mentioned in the EAA. If your app or site allows EU users to transact, apply for services, or manage finances, you must comply.
- UK Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) companies with EU clients e. a UK SaaS provider (like Xero UK) or smaller firms offering B2B platforms for project management, HR systems or CRM systems. If your digital product is licensed or used by EU-based businesses or individuals, it must be accessible. This includes dashboards, forms, customer portals, and login systems.
- UK online travel agencies or ticketing platforms e. Trainline, or a local theatre or event organiser selling tickets online to EU tourists. The EAA applies to ticketing services and transport platforms. If your site or app allows users in the EU to purchase tickets for travel or entertainment, it must be accessible.
- UK educational or e-learning providers targeting EU students e. a UK-based online course provider offering CPD or university content to EU students, as E-books, e-learning platforms, and digital course materials fall under the EAA. If EU users enrol in your courses or download digital materials, you must meet the standards.
- UK businesses with multi-language or EU-targeted websitese. a UK manufacturer with a multilingual website (English, German, French) marketing to EU distributors or clients. Even if you’re not selling directly online, a website clearly targeting EU markets through language, pricing, or shipping options triggers compliance obligations.
- UK app developers publishing to EU app stores, i.e. a UK mobile app developer publishing apps to the Apple App Store or Google Play with an EU user base, because apps are considered digital services under the EAA. If the app is available to EU users, even if it’s free, it must be accessible.
How to quickly test if your website needs to comply with EAA 2025
Some quick questions to ask of your digital assets or website if you’re still unsure if the Act applies to you:
- Do you display prices in euros?
- Do you offer shipping to EU countries?
- Do you have translated pages in French, German, Spanish or other EU languages?
- Do you actively market to EU-based customers?
If the answer is yes, you’ll need to ensure your digital content is accessible under the EAA.
Do UK businesses have to make all of their digital content accessible?
Yes and no. New content created on or after 28 June 2025 must meet the new EAA standards. Businesses have until 28 June 2030 to update their legacy content.
What penalties are likely for breach of the EAA 2025?
If your business falls within the remit of the EAA 2025 and you don’t comply with EU accessibility standards your business risks fines, legal action, and losing access to the EU market:
- Fines (ranging from €200,000 up to €1 million, depending on the country)
- Legal action from accessibility regulators or individuals
- Reputational damage and loss of trust with EU consumers
- Potential removal or restriction of services in EU member states
Are there exemptions for UK businesses that would ordinarily need to comply with the EAA2025?
Yes. Small businesses (under 10 employees and €2 million turnover) may be exempt unless accessibility is deemed ‘reasonable without disproportionate burden’. The burden is on the business to prove this.
How do I ensure that my digital content is EAA compliant?
At the heart of the Act is the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1 AA standards) which is a globally recognised framework, also known by the P.O.U.R. acronym, that ensures digital platforms are:
- Perceivable: content and user‑interface elements must be presented in ways that all users can detect i.e. include text alternatives for images (‘Alt text’), captions on videos, and sufficient colour contrast so text remains legible to colour‑blind or low‑vision visitors.
- Operable: navigation and controls must be usable by everyone. This covers keyboard‑only access (no “mouse‑trap” menus), logical focus order, time‑outs that can be adjusted, and controls large enough to tap on touchscreens.
- Understandable: both information and interaction patterns need to be clear and predictable through the use of plain language, consistent navigation, clear error messages, and labelling form fields.
- Robust: your code should remain usable as technology evolves. That means clean, standard‑compliant HTML, ARIA landmarks, and compatibility with a broad range of browsers, screen readers, and other assistive tech.
How do you know if your digital assets are EAA compliant?
A good starting point is to ask:
- Is your site navigable by keyboard alone?
- Are your PDFs or downloads tagged for screen readers?
- Do your forms include accessible labels?
- Are your colours, fonts, and layouts inclusive?
- Can your site be used easily on mobile with assistive tech?
- Do your images have text alternatives?
If you’re still unsure, or have never had your site audited for accessibility, now is the time to act.
Don’t forget about existing UK legislation!
Even if the EAA doesn’t apply to you, a reminder that the UK has its own accessibility regimes, for example, the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Bodies Accessibility Regulations 2018, but is likely to introduce EAA-style regulations in the future.
Ready for an accessibility audit?
I offer affordable, jargon-free website audits tailored to small and medium-sized UK businesses that will help you:
- Identify where your site falls short
- Prioritise fixes with actionable recommendations
- Future-proof your website for UK and EU legislation
The earlier you act, the smoother the transition will be. and the better experience you’ll provide to all your users. It will also help with your site’s search engine optimisation too!
Contact me today to book a free initial chat or request an accessibility audit for your website.