Europe’s Digital Accessibility Wake-Up Call: Is Your Business Ready for the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (E.A.A.) came into force in June 2025. Enforcement ramps up throughout 2026 - and if your organisation serves EU customers, this is one compliance priority you can’t ignore.

What the E.A.A. means for your business

The E.A.A. aims to remove digital barriers for people with disabilities by requiring accessible products and services across the European Union. Whether you operate inside the EU or sell to EU citizens, the E.A.A. is likely relevant to you.

• W.C.A.G. 2.2 Level AA: Websites, mobile apps and e-commerce must meet W.C.A.G. 2.2 AA standards.
• Accessibility statements: Public and accurate statements about accessibility status and remediation plans are required.
• Procurement rules: Contracts will increasingly demand proof of accessibility before awarding work.
• Penalties: Non-compliant digital products can face fines or market restrictions.

Not just compliance - a competitive advantage

Accessibility is no longer merely a legal box to tick. It strengthens brand trust, opens markets and improves the experience for all users. More than 1 billion people worldwide live with a disability - designing inclusively makes business sense and reflects social responsibility.

Accessible design often benefits everyone: clearer navigation, better readability and improved conversions.

Common accessibility gaps businesses discover

• Missing or unhelpful alt text for images
• Poor color contrast and unreadable text
• Interactive elements that are not keyboard accessible
• Media without captions or transcripts
• Unlabeled form controls and buttons
• PDFs and documents unreadable by screen readers
• Lack of routine accessibility testing and user feedback

Good news: most issues are fixable. Early audits shorten remediation time and reduce costs compared to retrofitting later.

Your next step: don’t wait for enforcement

Start with an accessibility audit focused on W.C.A.G. 2.2 AA. Partner with a specialist who can assess your digital estate, prioritise fixes and help embed accessible design practices into your product lifecycle.

Recommended actions:

• Run a technical W.C.A.G. audit across web and mobile channels.
• Publish an honest accessibility statement and remediation roadmap.
• Train product, design and engineering teams on accessible development.
• Include accessibility requirements in procurement and vendor contracts.
• Set up continuous testing and governance for long-term compliance.

The future is inclusive. Organisations that act now will avoid legal risk, improve customer experience and stand out as leaders in responsible digital design. What will your next move be?