Accessible for everyone: what the European Accessibility Act means

Why is accessibility now in the spotlight?

As of June 28, 2025, stricter rules will come into force across Europe as part of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). This legislation requires companies to make their digital products and services—such as websites, mobile apps, digital platforms, and self-service terminals—fully accessible to people with disabilities. The goal is clear: everyone should be able to fully participate in digital life, regardless of any limitations. In the Netherlands, the implementation of this law will have far-reaching consequences for the way companies design and manage their digital infrastructure.

What exactly is changing?

A key part of the law is who exactly falls under its scope. The obligation applies to consumer-oriented e-commerce services, such as webshops, banking environments, transport apps, and booking systems. Companies with more than 10 employees or an annual turnover above €2 million fall automatically within the EAA’s scope. Smaller enterprises are largely exempt, unless they are part of a larger structure or fulfil essential public functions.

To determine whether a digital service complies with the law, clear standards have been established. The most important of these is the WCAG 2.1 AA standard, which defines how perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust a digital environment must be. This is supplemented by the harmonized European standard EN 301 549, which also includes technical specifications for ICT systems. A new version of this standard (v4.1.1) is expected soon, incorporating WCAG 2.2 and additional features such as support for real-time text.

Implementation of the law is phased. From June 28, 2025, all new digital services must comply. Existing products and systems get a bit more time: they must be adapted or phased out by June 28, 2030. For self-service devices, such as ATMs or ticket machines, there is even a transition period until 2045. This gives companies room to invest in structural solutions without having to replace everything immediately.

What should companies do?

For organizations that fall under the EAA, it’s important to act as soon as possible. It begins with a thorough inventory of digital platforms: which websites, applications, or terminals are relevant and may not yet meet the required standards? Next, an extensive audit is necessary. Ideally, this is done according to the EN 301 549 guideline, involving both automated tools and human users to fully assess the user experience.

A required follow-up step is the creation of an accessibility statement. This must clearly state to what extent the digital service is accessible, what shortcomings still exist, and how users can give feedback or get in touch. After that, it is important to prioritize adjustments: features essential for usability or for vulnerable user groups deserve immediate attention. Finally, accessibility must become a continuous process. Regular audits, monitoring, and staff training ensure that the level remains high and keeps pace with technological and legal developments.