What the European Accessibility Act 2025 Means for Your Digital Products and How to Get Ready

A quiet but significant deadline is approaching: starting June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will begin to apply across the EU and EEA, setting accessibility requirements for digital products and services, including websites, mobile apps, e-commerce platforms, documents, and self-service tools.

If you’re running a digital agency or managing product delivery for clients in Europe, this regulation likely affects you. And if you’re responsible for multiple platforms, the scale of what’s needed can feel unclear.

This article includes an overview of the European Accessibility Act 2025, how to evaluate your current readiness, and what steps to take now to avoid late-stage pressure and compliance risks. More importantly, it helps you frame accessibility not just as a legal requirement but as a process you can build into your delivery culture with the right support.

Whether you’re already addressing accessibility or just beginning to explore what’s required, now is the right time to get informed and act with intention.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882) is designed to improve the accessibility of key digital products and services across the EU. It aims to reduce barriers for people with disabilities and support a more unified internal market by harmonizing accessibility requirements across member states.

The EAA applies to a broad range of private-sector entities that offer digital goods or services to consumers in the European Union, not just public bodies. This includes both public-facing platforms (like e-commerce websites and banking apps) and certain B2B solutions if they contribute to services used by the general public.

Countries in scope include all EU member states as well as EEA countries (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), meaning its reach covers most of the European digital market. Even companies based outside the EU must comply if their digital products or services are sold or used within these countries.

The EAA is not limited to government websites or public-sector organizations. If your agency builds, maintains, or delivers digital products that interact with EU-based users directly or through clients, the Act likely applies.

What “accessible” means under the EAA

Under the European Accessibility Act, “accessible” goes beyond just having alt text and readable fonts. It means that digital products and services must be perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for users with diverse needs, including people with visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor impairments.

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define three levels of conformance — A, AA, and AAA. Most legal frameworks, including the EAA, reference Level AA as the required baseline. This level balances feasibility with meaningful accessibility, covering issues like contrast, keyboard access, and clear form labeling without requiring the stricter conditions of Level AAA.

In practical terms, compliance means meeting the European Accessibility Act requirements set out in the harmonized European standard EN 301 549. This standard is closely aligned with WCAG 2.1 Level AA, but it also includes additional criteria for:

• Non-web content like PDFs and downloadable documents
• Electronic communications, such as support chats and contact forms
• User authentication and transactions (e.g., logging in, submitting orders)
• Self-service technologies like ticket machines and ATMs

An accessible product under the EAA should allow users to:

• Navigate and interact with digital content using only a keyboard
• Use screen readers or other assistive technologies without barriers
• Understand the structure and purpose of pages, forms, and actions
• Receive equivalent information and complete tasks independently

Accessibility isn’t just a technical checklist. It’s about making sure all users, regardless of ability, can complete essential actions like buying a product, accessing support, or reading terms and conditions. And with the EAA’s legal weight, these expectations are no longer optional.

Is your stack ready? A technical readiness for the European Accessibility Act checklist

European Accessibility Act compliance isn’t a one-off fix; it’s a system-wide effort that spans design, development, content, and QA. This checklist helps teams assess where their current digital infrastructure may fall short and what to prioritize before the June 2025 deadline.

Design System & Components

Your design system is the foundation for accessible experiences across all projects.

• Are components like buttons, modals, dropdowns, and form elements built with accessibility baked in, not added as an afterthought?
• Are semantic HTML elements used appropriately (<button>, <nav>, <label>, etc.) to support screen reader navigation?
• Do interactive components include proper ARIA roles and keyboard controls (e.g., focus trapping in modals, escape key exits)?

If your agency maintains reusable components across multiple sites or apps, this is one of the most efficient places to start hardening accessibility.

Frontend Frameworks & Libraries

Even accessible design can be undermined by poor implementation in code.

• Are you using linter tools (like eslint-plugin-jsx-a11y) and automated scanners (like axe DevTools) during development?
• Have your developers tested custom-built components with real assistive technologies, such as screen readers or keyboard-only workflows?
• Are dynamic interactions (sliders, carousels, tabs) coded in a way that respects focus, announcements, and control via the keyboard?

JavaScript-heavy apps often introduce accessibility regressions, especially when relying on third-party components.

Content & CMS Setup

Even a compliant front end breaks down if the content pipeline isn’t accessible.

• Can content editors set image alt text, define headings properly (H1–H6), and write descriptive links within the CMS?
• Is there clear guidance for content teams on accessible writing practices, including using plain language, logical structure, and descriptive media captions?
• Do dynamic elements injected via the CMS, such as pop-ups, banners, or accordions, follow accessibility best practices?

Accessibility is a shared responsibility, and empowering non-developers is key to long-term compliance.

Documents & Downloads

The EEA explicitly covers PDFs and other downloadable files.

• Are you generating tagged PDFs with logical reading order, correct headings, and alternative text for images?
• Do public-facing forms, invoices, and instructions meet accessibility standards?
• Is there a process for reviewing document accessibility before publication or distribution?

This is often overlooked in accessibility roadmaps but is a common source of risk under EN 301 549.

Backend & API Behavior

Accessibility also applies to how systems respond and communicate with users.

• Do your forms return clear, accessible error messages that can be read by screen readers?
• Are status updates (successful submission, loading state, errors) announced to users who can’t see visual feedback?
• Can all user flows, from login to checkout, be completed without relying on mouse interactions?

Invisible barriers in logic or feedback can be just as exclusionary as bad markup.

QA & Testing

Automated tools help, but they aren’t enough, and manual testing is essential.

• Is accessibility testing part of every release cycle, not just a one-time audit?
• Do your QA processes include screen reader testing, contrast checks, keyboard-only navigation, and mobile accessibility?
• Have you assessed your core interfaces against EN 301 549 v3.2.1 and WCAG 2.1 Level AA?

Many accessibility issues, like improper tab order or misleading link context, will only be pinpointed through real human interaction.

Running through this list early gives you a practical head start on remediation. Agencies managing multiple digital products will benefit from turning accessibility into a repeatable process, not a crisis response. It’s about building steady, maintainable habits that reduce friction over time and support long-term compliance.

How to get ready for European Accessibility Act 2025: your roadmap to compliance

Knowing when the European Accessibility Act applies — starting June 28, 2025 — is only the first step; the path to compliance is about more than just ticking technical boxes. For agencies managing multiple digital products, readiness means building internal capability, reducing risk exposure for clients, and setting up a sustainable process that evolves with the law.

Here’s a step-by-step roadmap to help you get started:

Step 1: Understand What’s in Scope

Begin by identifying which of your digital products and services are affected by the EAA. This may include:

• Websites and mobile apps used by customers in the EU/EEA
• E-commerce platforms, customer portals, and checkout flows
• PDF documents, online forms, and service-related content
• Self-service tools or embedded interfaces, such as kiosks

If your team builds or maintains these for clients, you’re likely responsible for their compliance, too.

Step 2: Run a Gap-Focused Accessibility Audit

Once you know what’s in scope, the next step is to assess where your current setup falls short. A thorough audit should include:

• A mix of automated scans and manual testing against EN 301 549 and WCAG 2.1 AA
• Documentation of violations and usability barriers by severity and impact
• Pattern recognition across projects, such as recurring issues with components, CMS templates, or workflows

For teams new to structured accessibility work, partnering with a specialist can help you move quickly with confidence.

Step 3: Prioritize Remediation Strategically

Not every issue needs to be fixed at once. Focus on areas where non-compliance poses the highest risk or blocks critical user tasks:

• Legal exposure, including inaccessible checkouts, registration forms
• Essential interactions, such as contacting support, reading product info
• Reusable components or shared templates that affect multiple products

Start with high-impact fixes that can scale across your ecosystem.

Step 4: Build Accessibility into Delivery Workflows

To avoid recurring issues, shift accessibility left, embedding it throughout your delivery process rather than treating it as a late-stage check.

• Add accessibility criteria to design reviews and development sprints
• Train cross-functional teams on common issues in WCAG and EN 301 549
• Use linting, keyboard testing, and contrast checks as part of routine QA

It’s easier and more cost-effective to get it right during development than retrofit later.

Step 5: Enable Your Team and Clients

Long-term compliance requires shared awareness and capability, both inside your team and across your client relationships.

• Run internal training sessions or workshops for designers, developers, and PMs
• Equip clients with guidance for publishing accessible content via CMS platforms
• Stay current with EU implementation updates and evolving accessibility standards

A team that understands accessibility is better equipped to sustain it.

Step 6: Set Up a Process for Ongoing Monitoring

Accessibility isn’t static, as new content, features, and third-party updates can all introduce regressions. A monitoring plan helps you stay compliant over time.

• Schedule periodic checks for live platforms
• Track changes introduced by content editors or feature updates
• Collect feedback from real users, including those who rely on assistive tech

Ongoing checks help reduce risk and maintain trust, both internally and with clients.

Preparing for the EAA doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With a structured roadmap, you can break down compliance into manageable steps and make accessibility part of your delivery culture. Start now, and your team will be better positioned, not just to meet the June 2025 deadline but to lead in a more inclusive digital landscape.

Common myths about accessibility that could hold your team back

Even among experienced teams, accessibility is often misunderstood and underprioritized until it’s too late. Here are some of the most common misconceptions that can stall your readiness for the European Accessibility Act.

Myth 1: “We’ll deal with accessibility after the launch.”

Accessibility is often treated as a final checkbox just before going live or, worse, after the product is already in production. But retrofitting accessibility into a live platform is time-consuming, expensive, and disruptive to users.

Incorporating accessibility during planning, design, and development allows you to catch issues early, reduce technical debt, and avoid rework. It also fosters a more inclusive user experience from day one, which is exactly what the EAA expects.

Myth 2: “We’ve passed the Lighthouse, so we’re good.”

Tools like Lighthouse, axe DevTools, or WAVE can highlight basic issues, but they offer a limited view. Automated audits typically catch surface-level violations, not usability issues, complex interactions, or content-specific gaps.

True EAA readiness requires a mix of automated checks and manual testing using screen readers, keyboard navigation, and real user flows. Without that, you risk a false sense of compliance.

Myth 3: “Accessibility is only about visual design.”

It’s common to equate accessibility with colors, contrast ratios, or font size as if making things “look readable” is enough. But many accessibility issues stem from interactions, structure, and logic, not just visuals.

While visual clarity matters, true accessibility covers how users navigate, interact with, and understand a product. That includes keyboard navigation, screen reader compatibility, clear form validation, meaningful page structure, and accessible documentation. Design is just one piece of the puzzle, not the whole picture.

Myth 4: “Our developers already know the basics.”

Basic knowledge of semantic HTML or ARIA roles is valuable, but it’s only a starting point. Many accessibility issues arise from design decisions, content choices, or unexpected interactions between tools, frameworks, and components.

Compliance with EN 301 549 requires a coordinated effort across development, design, QA, and content teams. Developers benefit from accessibility checklists, code review patterns, and ongoing training that adapts to evolving standards.

Myth 5: “This only affects public sector websites.”

This misconception is one of the biggest blockers to early action. While past EU directives (like the Web Accessibility Directive) focused on the public sector, the EAA applies to private companies offering products and services to the general public, including e-commerce, banking, transport, and digital communications.

If you work with commercial websites, digital marketplaces, or customer platforms used in the EU or EEA, your business (or your clients) is likely affected, even if your headquarters are outside the EU.

Looking Ahead: Building Accessibility Into How You Work

The European Accessibility Act isn’t just a legal obligation; it’s a turning point for how digital products are built, delivered, and maintained in the EU and beyond. As the deadline approaches, agencies and tech teams that take action now will be far better positioned to serve their clients, reduce risk, and stay competitive in a more inclusive digital market.

Getting ready isn’t about overhauling everything at once. It’s about asking the right questions, building the right habits, and having the right support, especially when the scope includes multiple websites, platforms, or delivery teams.

At Beetroot, we work closely with agencies and tech companies to integrate accessibility into real-world development processes. From structured audits and remediation roadmaps to long-term QA support and team upskilling, our goal is to help you move from compliance uncertainty to sustainable practice in a way that fits your team, your timelines, and your users.

If you’re looking to assess your accessibility posture or prepare your digital products for the EAA, we’re here to help. Let’s talk about how we can support your next steps.

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