The European Accessibility Act 2025: It may apply to your Web Site (r)
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In many countries, government websites are required to be accessible to all, including disabled people. However, from June 2025 in 2025 in 2025, it is expected that the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will be in force throughout European Union member states. It also applies to online commerce websites, such as those. Your webshop perhaps?
The European Accessibility Act in Short
The EAA is the designation of the directive (Directive 2019/882). Each member state has to transform the directive into a separate laws that regulate the products and the delivery of services. By June 2025, the legislation will be enforced throughout the EU states.
To get more information, the instances of these products and services are:
- Sites for news publishing with a subscription option;
- Services and selling of goods;
- Advertising platforms for platforms
- Professional services (e.g. doctors, lawyers, real estate agents);
- Offering entertainment and media services;
- Sales of telecom services.
Does your site belong to this list?
Microenterprises don't have to comply But they must plan for the future
A website that's currently accessible is very difficult. A burden too big to be borne by small businesses. Therefore, small-scale companies aren't required to comply until 2025 as per the EAA.
Microenterprise can be defined as "an company that employs less than 10 employees and that is able to generate a turnover per year or a one-time balance sheet that is less than 2 million euros."
Plan to plan for the future. In a few years, will you still remain a microenterprise? Please mind, regardless of your goals, access to your website could increase the revenue of sales because more customers are able to access the site. This is an excellent idea.
Web Accessibility, as well as the WCAG Guidelines
Be aware of the features and services offered by a site. Websites should be "accessible." It means the site must be able to be accessed by as many people as possible using as many devices as possible.
What is the best way to measure Web accessibility?
Websites can be accessible if they are in conformity with WCAG The accessibility guidelines for web pages. WCAG is a set of guidelines that includes each of the successful specifications that website owners should be able to fulfill.
WCAG is composed of three levels. A is the most basic level, and A is the most widely used, level, while Level AAA is an exclusive software that isn't really to be used on websites. To be able to use WCAG AA, there are 50 requirements for a successful application (all at level A plus the level AA).
For instance, the Guidelines 1.2 Time-based media says: "Provide alternatives for time-based media".
One of the requirements for success could be 1.2.2 Captions (Prerecorded) Level A: "Captions are provided in all recorded audio files on media that have been linked, unless in the case of an alternative to text, and are clearly labeled for that purpose."
In short: Provide captions for the spoken language used in videos, and those who are deaf also can comprehend the video's content.
Frequently Asked Questions About the European Accessibility Act
There's the Effort, All the Trouble It's all worth it?
Yes, it's worthwhile. Around 20% of users have benefited from having access to the web. Not only visitors who are blind or have low vision or are deaf, but also people with motor impairment, anxiety, or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They may also be stressed or tired. People that could turn into customers. There is no perfect day in the day. With the Internet, you are able to communicate with anyone.
What is the EAA How Will the EAA Be Implemented?
My company is located in the outside of EU However, the company sells products in EU countries. Do I count?
If you provide services or products within the European Union, your site needs to be accessible. The method by which it will be regulated is not clear.
Does the EAA apply to existing Sites or just to the new Sites?
If you do not update your site, which includes the information, you're not required to adhere to EAA guidelines. EAA directive. If you're looking at a normal website, it's very unlikely.
I'm required to follow the EAA. What should I do right This Moment?
In 4 steps:
- Verify the accessibility for your site.
- Make sure that your website designer is capable of designing and implement accessibility features. If not, search for an agency that is able to.
- Based on the result of the first step depending on the outcome of the first step: redesign or overhaul the site.
- Learn how your team of content creators can make accessible content.
Where can I find the Internet Agency who is knowledgeable regarding accessibility?
Ask questions like: what is the level of their team educated, how accessible websites did they able to develop and what guidelines do they follow when building and developing a website? Are there details about accessibility available on the site of the organization?
Still Need Help?
Two suggestions are offered to you:
- Level Level Level Level, an WordPress agency located in Rotterdam located in the Netherlands is among the few websites who build completely customized and accessible websites.
- The A11Y Collective is an online education platform which offers web-based access. Anyone involved in the creation and maintaining web projects.
Summary
In June 2025. In June 2025 in June 2025, The European Accessibility Act (EAA) will enter into force in European Union member states. The directive will apply to all commerce websites as well as those operating on the internet, and have at least 10 employees with a turnover of at least 10 percent or an account balance that is not less than 2 million euros.
Websites must be compliant to the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) with a level of AA. The current version most likely to be version 2.2.
firms that are outside of the EU but selling products or services to EU countries also have to abide by the rules of accessibility.
In order to ensure compliance for compliance, businesses must determine whether their site is accessible. To ensure accessibility it is necessary to review their website's accessibility and to ensure that the web team is knowledgeable about accessibility. Then, they could modify or build the site as well as train their team of content creators to produce accessible web content.
Although it may take some time, having websites that are accessible can bring many advantages like an increase in sales and reaching out to a larger public.
Rian Rietveld
Rian is an expert in accessibility of digital devices and web development based in the Netherlands. She works with Level Level as an accessibility consultant, and also as a trainer for The A11Y Collective platform. She teaches Level the Level Level Level team and customers how to create accessible products and also speaks at WordCamps, as well as conferences around the world.
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