Accessibility law in the EU: what applies since 28 June 2025

The European Accessibility Act (Directive (EU) 2019/882)

Directive (EU) 2019/882 of 17 April 2019 is known as the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Member states had to adopt national laws by 28 June 2022 and apply them from 28 June 2025 (Article 31). A directive does not bind businesses directly: what you must do, who checks it and which penalties apply are set by each national law.

Services covered

• electronic communications services
• services giving access to audiovisual media services
• parts of air, bus, rail and waterborne passenger transport: websites, apps, e-tickets, travel information and interactive self-service terminals
• consumer banking services
• e-books and dedicated software
• e-commerce services, for example online shops and booking flows aimed at consumers

Products include consumer computers and operating systems, payment terminals, ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines, smartphones and other consumer terminal equipment, and e-readers.

The micro-enterprise exemption

Micro-enterprises that provide services are exempt from the accessibility requirements and related obligations (Article 4(5)). A micro-enterprise employs fewer than 10 persons and has an annual turnover or an annual balance sheet total of no more than EUR 2 million (Article 3(23)). The exemption does not cover micro-enterprises that deal with products. Our quick check gives a first indication of whether you are covered.

What service providers must do

• Design and provide the service in line with the accessibility requirements in Annex I (Article 13(1)).
• Publish information on how the service meets those requirements, following Annex V, in written and oral format and in an accessible way. Keep it for as long as the service runs (Article 13(2)). Many sites do this with an accessibility statement; our statement generator helps you draft one.
• Keep the service compliant when it changes, fix non-conformities and inform the authorities (Article 13(3) and (4)).

Exceptions exist where compliance would fundamentally alter the service or impose a disproportionate burden. The provider must assess and document this (Article 14).

Transition periods

• Until 28 June 2030, service providers may keep using products they lawfully used before that date to provide similar services (Article 32(1)).
• Service contracts agreed before 28 June 2025 may continue unchanged until they expire, but no longer than five years from that date.
• Member states may let self-service terminals in use before 28 June 2025 run until the end of their economic life, but no longer than 20 years after entry into use (Article 32(2)). Germany, for example, chose a maximum of 15 years.

There is no general transition period for websites or online shops.

EN 301 549 and WCAG

EN 301 549 is the European standard for the accessibility of ICT products and services. Meeting a harmonised standard whose reference is published in the Official Journal of the EU gives a presumption of conformity.

• EN 301 549 V3.2.1 (2021-03) is cited as the harmonised standard for public sector websites and apps (Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2021/1339). Its web clause (clause 9) is based on WCAG 2.1 Level AA.
• EN 301 549 V4.1.1 (2026-09) was published on 2 September 2026. Clauses 9 to 11 are aligned with WCAG 2.2. On our check date its reference had not yet been published in the Official Journal of the EU; Ireland’s National Disability Authority expects it on 16 December 2026. Until then, V3.2.1 remains the cited version.

We test against WCAG 2.2 Level AA. That goes beyond V3.2.1, which refers to WCAG 2.1. New criteria in WCAG 2.2 include 2.4.11 Focus Not Obscured (Minimum), 2.5.8 Target Size (Minimum) and 3.3.8 Accessible Authentication (Minimum). See our test method.

Public sector: the Web Accessibility Directive

Websites and apps of public sector bodies fall under a different law: Directive (EU) 2016/2102. It has applied to newer websites since 23 September 2019, to all other websites since 23 September 2020 and to mobile apps since 23 June 2021. In Germany, for example, it is transposed for public bodies at federal level by the BITV 2.0.

Enforcement and penalties

Each member state names its own market surveillance or compliance authorities. Some have one authority for all services; others split the work by sector, so e-commerce, banking and transport may each have a different regulator. The table below lists the authority responsible for e-commerce services where we could verify it.

The directive only requires penalties that are “effective, proportionate and dissuasive” (Article 30). Amounts differ widely between countries. In Germany, for example, offering a non-compliant service can lead to a fine of up to EUR 100,000 (section 37 BFSG).

What a certificate can and cannot do

Our certificate records that a defined scope was tested against WCAG 2.2 AA on a given date, and that a person decided every criterion. It does not replace the information duty under national law, it is not a decision of any authority, and it is not legal advice. Read more in what an accessibility certificate tells you.

Deadlines at a glance

1. 17 Apr 2019Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act) is adopted.
2. 23 Sep 2019Directive (EU) 2016/2102 applies to new public sector websites.
3. 23 Jun 2021Directive (EU) 2016/2102 also applies to public sector apps.
4. 28 Jun 2022Deadline for member states to adopt national laws.
5. 28 Jun 2025National laws apply. Covered consumer services must be accessible.
6. 2 Sep 2026EN 301 549 V4.1.1, aligned with WCAG 2.2, is published.
7. 28 Jun 2030End of the transition period for products already in use and for older service contracts.