Directive (EU) 2019/882EAA compliance
EAA compliance for websites, explained
The European Accessibility Act has applied since 28 June 2025. Enforcement is no longer theoretical: courts and regulators across the EU have started acting. Here is what actually matters if you run — or build — websites that sell to EU consumers.
01
Who has to comply
Businesses selling products or services to consumers in the EU: e-commerce, banking, transport, telecoms, e-books and more — regardless of where the company is based. Microenterprises providing services (under 10 employees and €2M turnover) are exempt, but their clients usually are not. That is why agencies and law firms feel the pressure first: their portfolios are full of companies in scope.
02
What standard applies
The EAA itself does not list technical rules. The harmonised standard EN 301 549 does, and for websites it points to WCAG — currently level AA. Audit against WCAG 2.2 AA and you are auditing against the strictest current interpretation of the legal benchmark.
03
What enforcement looks like
In June 2026 a French court ordered Carrefour to make its site and app accessible within six months, under a daily penalty. German shops received formal warning letters within weeks of the BFSG taking effect. Sweden's regulator opened cases after 124 complaints. Fines are set nationally — up to €100,000 in Germany and higher elsewhere.
04
How to prepare
Start with an automated WCAG 2.2 scan to find the machine-detectable failures — around half of all issues, including the most common ones like missing alt text and low contrast. Fix those, then plan human review for the rest. Re-scan monthly: sites regress every time content or code changes.
FAQ
Does the EAA apply to companies outside the EU?
Yes, if they sell to consumers in the EU. The location of the business does not matter; the market does.
Is WCAG 2.2 AA legally required?
EN 301 549 currently references WCAG 2.1 AA, and the standard is being updated. Auditing against WCAG 2.2 AA covers both today's benchmark and where it is heading.
Can an automated scan make a site EAA-compliant?
No. Automated testing reliably finds roughly half of accessibility issues. It is the fastest way to find and fix the most common failures — human review covers the rest.
WCAG Inspector
Join the waitlist for early access