How to Achieve European Accessibility Act (EAA) Compliance: Is Your Website Prepared?
From 28 June, 2025, any organisation operating within the European Union, or serving EU-based customers, must meet AA-level accessibility standards under the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
If your website isn’t accessible by then, you risk penalties, reputational damage and exclusion from EU markets.
But what exactly is the EAA, and how can you make sure your website is ready?
Let’s break it down.
Olly Clapp brings creativity and expertise to his role as a Senior Designer at Itineris, a dynamic digital marketing agency renowned for its innovative strategy, branding, and web development solutions. With expertise in conversion optimisation, accessibility, and brand performance, Olly consistently delivers impactful projects that drive client success.
- What is the European Accessibility Act?
- Why EAA Compliance Matters
- Key Steps to Make Your Website EAA Compliant
- European Accessibility Act: Who Needs to Take Action?
- Don’t Wait Until it’s too Late
What is the European Accessibility Act?
The EAA is a directive designed to improve accessibility for people with disabilities across the EU. It applies to a wide range of digital services, including websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, banking, transport, telecoms and media.
Quite simply, if you sell products or services in the EU, even if your company is based somewhere else, this law likely applies to you.
The EAA aligns with WCAG Level 2.1 AA (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines). These website accessibility standards define how digital experiences should be built so that everyone, regardless of ability, can access and use them.
There’s a lot that goes into this, but in short, your website must be easy to navigate, understand, and interact with.
Why EAA Compliance Matters
Website accessibility is not just a matter ticking boxes and meeting regulations.
Sure, it’s a legal requirement, but it also improves website engagement and performance.
First, EAA compliance means your website is legally usable by people who rely on assistive technologies like screen readers, keyboard navigation, or alternative input devices. It ensures that everyone, including millions of EU citizens with disabilities, can engage with your organisation online without barriers.
Accessible websites also improve user experience for everyone. They load faster, work better on mobile, rank higher in search engines, and are easier to use.
So even if you’re not driven by the legal deadline, the business benefits of website accessibility shouldn’t be ignored.
Key Steps to Make Your Website EAA Compliant
Start by reviewing your website against WCAG Level 2.1 AA standards. These are the technical rules that underpin the EAA.
You’ll need to ensure your website is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust — known as the POUR principles.
Use clear HTML structure. Mark up headings in logical order, use proper tags like
Add alt text to all images. Make sure every image has a meaningful description, unless it’s purely decorative — in which case it should have empty alt text so it’s ignored by screen readers.
Ensure contrast and readability. Text must be easy to read against the background. Aim for a contrast ratio of at least 4.5:1. You’ll want to avoid using colour alone to convey meaning, and use icons or labels too.
Test keyboard navigation. Your website must be fully usable without a mouse. That means all buttons, links, and form fields should work using the Tab, Enter, and Shift+Tab keys.
Label all form fields clearly. Each field should have an associated visible label. Use clear error messages, placeholders, and instructions. Group related fields using
