What is the European Accessibility Act, and how can we help your digital product comply with it until June 2025?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a directive from the European Union aimed at improving accessibility for persons with disabilities across the EU. Adopted in 2019, it requires all 27 EU member states to adopt and implement the act into their national law by June 28, 2025. This harmonization of accessibility standards is crucial for facilitating cross-border trade and ensuring accessible products and services across the EU. The act targets key sectors, including digital and physical products and services, and according to the European Accessibility Act timeline, businesses and organizations must comply by 2025.

At Wolfpack Digital, we’re here to make that transition seamless. As a web & mobile app development company with experience in building accessible, user-friendly applications, we can help businesses meet the EAA standards with ease. We don’t just develop apps; we build solutions that every user can navigate, enjoy, and benefit from.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act directive sets guidelines to make websites, apps, and digital services accessible to people with disabilities. It aims to ensure equal access to digital products and services across Europe. It covers areas like screen reader compatibility, adjustable font sizes, voice control, keyboard navigation, and high-contrast colors, among others. For businesses, this act isn’t merely about compliance—it’s about inclusivity, equality, and reaching a broader audience.

Take into consideration that this is the very short European Accessibility Act 2025 summary. You can read the whole directive here.

Why Accessibility Matters?

"In 2023, 27% of the EU population over the age of 16 had some form of disability. According to Eurostat estimates, that equals 101 million people or one in four people adults in the EU."

Imagine a user who is visually impaired trying to navigate an app to make a transaction or a senior who needs larger font sizes to read content. For them, accessibility isn’t just a preference; it’s essential. 

At Wolfpack Digital, we believe that great software should be accessible to everyone. That’s why we prioritize digital accessibility from the start, embedding best practices into each stage of development to create digital experiences that are intuitive and enjoyable for all.

Products and Services Covered in the European Accessibility Act

The EAA applies to several products and services, particularly those that are essential for participation in daily life. These include:

• Digital products: Computers, smartphones, ATMs, ticketing machines, and payment terminals;
• Banking services: Online banking and ATMs;
• E-commerce: Websites and apps for shopping online;
• Media services: Audiovisual media services like video streaming;
• Telecommunications: Telephone services, emergency services, and call centers;
• Transport: Websites and mobile apps for public transport services.

Accessibility Requirements for Products and Services

This European Accessibility Act 2025 directive outlines accessibility requirements for products and services to ensure their use by people with disabilities. Member states of the European Union are responsible for adopting and enforcing these accessibility requirements, including penalties for noncompliance.

General accessibility requirements for all products include:

• Products must be designed and produced to maximize use by people with disabilities.
• Products should include accessible information on their functioning and accessibility.

General accessibility requirements for all services include:

• Ensuring the accessibility of the products used in the provision of the service, in accordance with Section I of this Annex and, where applicable, Section II thereof;
• Providing information about the functioning of the service, where products are used in the provision of the service, its link to these products, as well as information about their accessibility characteristics and interoperability with assistive devices and facilities:
  • Making the information available via more than one sensory channel;
  • Presenting the information in an understandable way;
  • Presenting the information to users in ways they can perceive;
  • Making the information content available in text formats that can be used to generate alternative assistive formats to be presented in different ways by the users and via more than one sensory channel;
  • Presenting in fonts of adequate size and suitable shape, taking into account foreseeable conditions of use and using sufficient contrast, as well as adjustable spacing between letters, lines, and paragraphs;
  • Supplementing any non-textual content with an alternative presentation of that content; and
  • Providing electronic information needed in the provision of the service in a consistent and adequate way by making it perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust;
• Making websites, including the related online applications, and mobile device-based services, including mobile applications, accessible in a consistent and adequate way by making them perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust;
• Where available, support services (help desks, call centers, technical support, relay services, and training services) provide information on the accessibility of the service and its compatibility with assistive technologies in accessible modes of communication.

Source: DIRECTIVE (EU) 2019/882 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL, ANNEX I, Section III

What happens if businesses don't comply with the European Accessibility Act before June 2025?

If businesses don’t comply with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) requirements by the June 28, 2025 deadline, they may face a range of consequences, depending on how each EU member state enforces the directive. National laws enforce compliance and outline specific requirements and guidelines for organizations regarding accessibility practices.

Member States must establish procedures to:

• Check compliance of services with the requirements of the EAA directive.
• Follow up on complaints related to non-compliance of services.
• Verify corrective action taken by economic operators.

Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019L0882, Chapter IX, Article 23

What happens if my product or service is not compliant? 

If market surveillance authorities* find a product non-compliant, they can require the economic operator (manufacturer, importer, or distributor) to take corrective actions within a reasonable timeframe.

Market surveillance authorities can also impose provisional measures such as prohibiting or restricting the product's availability.

*Market surveillance authorities are entities responsible for ensuring that products and services comply with applicable regulations and standards, particularly regarding accessibility requirements.

Penalties for Non-compliance:

• Member States must establish and implement penalties for violations of national provisions transposing the Directive.
• Penalties must be effective, proportionate, and dissuasive. They should also include remedial action to address the non-compliance.
• The severity of penalties consider factors like the extent and seriousness of non-compliance, the number of affected products or services, and the number of people impacted.

Why Choose Wolfpack Digital to help ensure EAA compliance?

At Wolfpack Digital, we develop powerful web & mobile apps start-to-end, and we’re your partner in creating digital experiences that are engaging and accessible to everyone. We bring years of experience in developing accessible apps across industries like fintech, healthcare, IoT, social, and many more, making accessibility a natural part of the product development journey.

Our team knows accessibility inside and out and is dedicated to creating products beyond just meeting the EAA's legal requirements. Partnering with us ensures compliance while helping you reach a wider, more inclusive audience.

Our commitment to accessibility is exemplified through our collaboration with Transreport, one of the UK's fastest-growing accessibility technology company. Together, we developed the Passenger Assistance app, a groundbreaking platform designed to streamline travel for disabled and older passengers. This app enables users to book and manage assistance for their journeys, significantly enhancing their travel experience. 

The Passenger Assistance app incorporates several key accessibility features:

• Speech recognition software – It converts spoken words to text.
• Screen reader software – Used to read out the text displayed on the screen.
• Large font size – Used to enlarge app text and make reading easy for vision-impaired users.
• Special keyboard - Made for users with motor difficulties so they can type easily.
• Customizable Color Themes - An accessibility feature that allows them to select 1 of 4 different color themes, each designed to suit their individual access needs.

These features align with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), demonstrating our dedication to creating inclusive digital solutions. We have a video explaining the WCAG guidelines and examples of making certain elements accessible to all users. 

The success of the Passenger Assistance app is evident in its widespread adoption and recognition. With over 100,000 downloads, it has been featured on the Apple App Store homepage and in numerous media outlets like Business Traveller and Tech.eu. Notably, the app was a finalist in the 'Inclusivity' category at the 2023 Apple Design Awards, underscoring its impact in promoting accessible travel. 

Our work with Transreport highlights our expertise in developing applications that not only comply with accessibility standards but also enhance the user experience for all individuals. 

Let’s Build Accessible Solutions Together

The countdown to EU Accessibility Act compliance is on. Let us help your digital product meet these essential standards and, in the process, create solutions that truly welcome every user. From initial assessments to development and beyond, we develop powerful web & mobile apps start-to-end that ensure you’re not just meeting accessibility standards—you’re leading with them.

Ready to make your digital products accessible to everyone? Contact us today, and let’s start building a more inclusive digital world together.