8.4The European Accessibility Act (EAA)

The EAA is the most significant accessibility regulation since the ADA. It requires accessibility compliance for products and services sold in the EU, including:

• E-commerce websites and mobile apps
• Banking and financial services
• Audiovisual media services
• E-books and e-readers
• Transportation services (booking, check-in)
• Telecommunication services

Key Requirements

The EAA references EN 301 549, which in turn references WCAG 2.1 AA. This means:

• All web content must conform to WCAG 2.1 Level AA
• Mobile applications must follow similar accessibility principles
• Self-service terminals (ATMs, check-in kiosks) must be accessible
• Companies must publish accessibility statements
• Enforcement is at the EU member state level

Impact on Non-EU Companies

If you sell to EU customers, the EAA applies to you regardless of where your company is based. This has caused a wave of accessibility investment from US and Asian companies that sell into the EU market.