What does the EU Accessibility Act 2025 mean for your website?

Imagine entering a beautifully designed, modern building while using a wheelchair. As you go through the building, you suddenly find yourself at a staircase without ramps or elevators. Despite how otherwise well-designed the building is, you’re unable to go any further or reach the upper floors due to a physical limitation.  

A similar thing happens to people with disabilities in the digital space. Many people experience barriers when accessing websites  on the Internet that are not designed to be accessible, even if they’re otherwise modern and well-designed. 

There are directives coming into force that are trying to address these barriers. The EU Accessibility Act 2025 (EAA) is a directive that aims to improve the accessibility of websites and mobile applications within the European Union.  

This EU-wide standard must be implemented by every EU member state, and its standards must be adapted by any websites that serve EU residents.  

In this article, we’ll go over what accessibility in the digital space means exactly, why it’s so important, and what happens if website owners don’t comply with directive. Let’s get started!  

What is the EAA?  

The Accessibility Act aims to improve access to digital content and services for all citizens, especially for people with disabilities. The directive applies to both EU sites and non-EU sites that sells products or services to EU residents.  

Who it applies to  

The accessibility guidelines affect a broad group of organisations and companies that offer digital content: 

1. Public institutions: All websites and mobile apps of public institutions, such as government sites, local authorities, or educational institutions, must comply with the requirements of the law.  

2. Private companies: As stated previously, private companies that offer their products or services online to customers in the EU are also affected. This applies to companies from all sectors, including ecommerce, online banking, media companies, and companies that offer software or digital services. The directive also applies to the websites of large international companies and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) operating in the EU. 

3. Online services and platforms: The law applies to classic websites as well as mobile apps and other digital platforms that interact with the public, such as online shops, social media, travel booking sites and many more. All types of user interfaces must be accessible to people with different impairments. 

The EAA applies to all businesses with an exception for microbusinesses with fewer than 10 staff members and a turnover under €2 million. Even for these small businesses, the recommendation is to abide by the EAA guidelines as it could apply to these businesses in the future. 

Any entity covered which doesn’t follow the regulations could risk legal and financial consequences. 

The goals of the EEA 

The EEA’s central goal is to make the digital world accessible and inclusive for all people. This core goal is partially a response to the increasing importance of the Internet in most people’s daily lives and an essential step towards a more just and equal society.  

Improving accessibility for people with disabilities  

The primary goal is to improve the accessibility of digital content and services for people with a wide range of limitations, from visual and auditory to motor and cognitive impairments.  

The introduction of clear requirements and standards are intended to ensure that websites and mobile apps can be used without restrictions by all users. 

Promoting digital participation  

By helping people with disabilities to fully take advantage of the digital world, the EEA aims to further reduce the digital barriers that prevent people with disabilities from exercising their rights and contributing to society in a broader way.  

Its impact on you as a website owner  

The EEA has far-reaching effects on companies and public institutions that offer digital services. The directive requires website operators to actively engage with accessibility and sets clear requirements that have to be incorporated into websites. 

Deadlines for accessibility improvements 

After a transitional period of three years, the requirements of the directive fully come into force on June 28^th, 2025. By this date, websites and apps of public institutions and companies that offer their services online must be fully accessible. 

As mentioned earlier in the article, there are exceptions for smaller companies that have fewer than 10 employees and have low turnover. However, these only affect certain categories of companies, and they too must ensure that their websites meet at least basic accessibility requirements. 

Concrete measures for implementation  

The implementation of the EAA requires website operators to take several concrete measures: 

1. Technical adjustments: Website operators must ensure that their pages follow guidelines on text comprehensibility, navigation and media use. This includes the implementation of alternative text for images, subtitles for videos, and the optimised use of colours for people with visual impairments. 

2. Accessible forms: Forms on websites, such as contact forms and order flows, must be designed in such a way that they are accessible to everyone. This includes clear labels, error messages, and the ability to operate forms with keyboard shortcuts. 

3. Training: Companies need to train their employees to understand the importance of accessibility and apply the proper design and development techniques. Web developers and designers also need to be educated on the best practices for creating accessible websites. 

4. Continuous review: The accessibility of a website shouldn’t just be checked once. Website operators must regularly test their digital offerings and ensure that they are still compatible with the latest standards and technologies. 

5. Reporting: Another measure is that website operators regularly report on the status of the accessibility of their pages. To do this, clear audits must be created and published on the websites so that visitors can understand accessibility. 

The implementation of these measures ensures that websites are accessible to all and that companies make the adjustments needed to meet the requirements of the directive. 

What the EAA means for website design and development 

The firm accessibility requirements of the EAA are certain to have a direct impact on the design and development process of websites. Thus, it’s important for companies and developers to think of accessibility as an integral part of every project and not as an optional add-on.  

A website should not only look good, but also have content that that all users, regardless of their abilities or limitations, can easily access.  

An important step in this process is to treat accessibility as part of the overall user experience (UX) design by considering the needs of all user groups. 

Usability and inclusion as design principles  

At the heart of accessible design is ease of use and inclusion. The user experience (UX) needs to be designed to be easy and enjoyable for all users, regardless of skill level.  

Overall, accessibility in design is not only a legal requirement, but also an opportunity to expand the target audience and create an inclusive and fair user experience.  

The role of WCAG policies 

The EU Accessibility Act 2025 explicitly refers to the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) guidelines to set uniform standards for the accessibility of websites and mobile applications in the EU.  

The WCAG provides a detailed collection of criteria and recommendations that ensure websites are visually, auditorily, and interactively accessible. 

The law requires website operators to use WCAG as a basis for designing accessible digital content. These guidelines ensure that there are clear, measurable and actionable requirements that enable people with disabilities to access digital content. The WCAG guidelines thus provide a technical reference that developers and designers can use as a guide to follow the requirements of the law. 

Relevant WCAG standards for websites  

WCAG is divided into four main principles designed to ensure an accessible website. These principles – perceptibility, usability, comprehensibility and robustness – are the basis for the specific techniques and requirements that must be considered for website accessibility.  

The most important and relevant standards from the WCAG for websites are:  

1. Perceptibility: 

• Text alternatives for images: All images and graphics on a website must be provided with alternative text that can be read aloud by screen readers. This is especially important for people with visual impairments. 

• Subtitles and transcripts for multimedia content: All videos and audio content must be subtitled and, if possible, audio descriptions to allow access for deaf and visually impaired users. 

• Contrast: The contrast between text and background must be sufficiently high to make it easier for people with visual impairments to read.  

• Text size and readability: The text must be easy to read on the website, with sufficient line spacing, easy-to-read fonts, and a customisable text size. The content should work well on different devices (responsive website).  

2. Usability: 

• Keyboard navigation: An accessible website must be fully operable with the keyboard. People with motor impairments who cannot use a mouse must be able to run the entire website via keyboard shortcuts. 

• Ability to be focused: All interactive elements such as links and buttons (CTAs) must be able to serve as the focus of a keyboard navigation system so that users can easily move from one element to the next. 

• Avoidance of timed interactions: Websites should not have time-sensitive elements that put pressure on the user, such as auto-expiring forms or closing pop-ups. 

• Accessible interactions: Every interaction on the website, whether it’s filling out a form or clicking a button, should be accessible to all user groups. Both visual cues and acoustic cues for the user interface must be considered. 

3. Comprehensibility: 

• Clear language and structure: The website must be written in clear, simple language that can be easily understood by all users. Complex formulations should be avoided or explained. 

• Predictability of navigation: Users should always be able to orient themselves well on a website, e.g. by always knowing how to get from one page to the next or use a function. 

• Error messages and corrections: If a mistake is made (e.g. when entering data into a form), the website must display a simple error message that is easy to understand and helps the user to correct the error. 

4. Robustness: 

• Technology compatibility: Websites must be designed to be compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers, speech recognition software, or voice control systems. 

• Futureproofing: The website should be developed in such a way that it stays compatible with future technologies and web standards. It should be regularly reviewed for technology standards. 

By implementing these WCAG standards, website operators ensure that their websites are accessible to all users, including people with various disabilities. Moreover, it also optimises the overall user experience.  

Penalties for non-compliance 

The EU Accessibility Act 2025 provides for clear consequences for websites or their operators that do not follow accessibility requirements. These sanctions are intended to ensure that accessibility is not only understood as a voluntary measure, but as a legal obligation that must be respected.  

The consequences of non-compliance can have both legal and financial implications and are aimed at making the digital offerings accessible to all users. 

Possible penalties and consequences for non-compliance  

The penalties for non-compliance with the EU Accessibility Act 2025 vary depending on the severity of the violation and the company concerned. In most cases, fines are imposed, which can be based on the company’s turnover. The amount of the fines varies from country to country, but the general EU requirements set the framework.  

The possible consequences include: 

• Fines: Typically, the penalty is decided based on the company’s annual turnover. Companies with a larger turnover can expect higher penalties. 

• Ban on the use of public funding: Companies that violate accessibility requirements may lose access to certain government funding or subsidies. 

• Publication of violations: In some cases, there may be public disclosure of the violations, which damages the company’s reputation and can drive customers away.  

• Market access restrictions: Companies that do not implement the accessibility requirements could be excluded from the market in certain cases, which is a serious consequence for providers of products and services with international or national market presences. 

• Requirements for improvement: Obligations to quickly improve or adapt the offers in question may also be issued. 

The sanctions affect not only large, internationally active companies, but also small and medium-sized companies that run in the EU and offer digital services. 

Legal and financial risks 

The legal risks for companies that violate the requirements of the EU Accessibility Act 2025 are significant. There is the threat of fines, but also of legal lawsuits from affected users or organisations suing for accessibility. This could lead to lengthy and costly litigation that could damage a company’s reputation. 

Financial risks also exist in the form of loss of sales. If a website is inaccessible, it loses a significant portion of the potential customer base, especially people with limitations that depend on an accessible user experience. Companies could lose customers and thus sales as a result.  

However, companies that invest in accessibility benefit from avoiding these risks while also strengthening their brand image and expand their target audiences. Besides being a legal obligation, an accessible website is also a competitive factor in the digital space. 

Accessibility: a worthwhile investment  

The EU Accessibility Act 2025 represent a decisive step towards a barrier-free digital future. The most important requirements of the law – the accessibility of websites and mobile applications for people with disabilities – are intended to ensure that digital services are accessible to all citizens. Website operators must now design their pages to follow WCAG guidelines and must regularly check whether their digital content is still accessible. 

Implementing accessibility is an investment in the future and therefore essential for the long-term success of websites. Therefore, make sure to take the necessary time to implement the requirements. This will help minimise your exposure to legal and financial risks while building customer loyalty and growth in an inclusive digital world.