The EAA’s impact across Europe: What changes after June 28, 2025?

June 28, 2025, will mark a turning point for accessibility in Europe with the enforcement of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). This regulation ensures that products, services, software, and documents are fully accessible to all European citizens, particularly those with disabilities. It is part of a broader EU initiative to build an inclusive society where technological or structural barriers do not hinder access to goods and services.

Many European countries already have national accessibility regulations in place. However, the harmonization brought by the EAA represents a major shift, as it extends accessibility requirements to key sectors like e-commerce, mobile apps, ticketing machines, ATMs, video streaming platforms, and online banking. To better understand these changes, let’s examine how the EAA will impact four countries: Italy, Austria, France, and Germany.

Italy has implemented the EAA through Legislative Decree No. 82 of May 27, 2022, which incorporates the European Directive 2019/882 on accessibility requirements for products and services. This decree will come fully into effect on June 28, 2025, applying to a wide range of products and services, including IT systems, self-service terminals (such as ATMs and ticket machines), electronic communication services, audiovisual media services, e-commerce, and consumer banking. The decree imposes specific obligations on manufacturers, importers, and distributors, including the need to certify product compliance with accessibility standards via CE marking and technical documentation. Additionally, the Agency for Digital Italy (AgID) and the Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) will oversee market compliance and product verification.

In Austria, the European Accessibility Act will primarily impact private sector accessibility standards, particularly for products and services such as ATMs, e-commerce, websites, and apps. It introduces monitoring by authorities (Sozialministeriumservice) to ensure compliance. The fines for non-conformity can reach 80.000 euros. In severe cases, distribution of non-conform services can be forbidden.  However, Austria’s main accessibility legislation, the Bundes-Behindertengleichstellungsgesetz (BGStG) from 2006, addresses anti-discrimination measures and does not directly relate to the EAA. Additionally, in 2019, Austria introduced the Web Accessibility Act (WZG), which aligns with EU Directive 2016/2102 on the accessibility of public administration websites and mobile apps. As the EAA standards are implemented, private companies will also need to adhere to EN 301549 standards for digital products and services.

In France, the EAA has been integrated into the national framework through a combination of existing and updated legislation. The cornerstone of French accessibility law is Law No. 2005-102, enacted in February 2005, which governs the rights and participation of people with disabilities. This law set initial accessibility standards for public facilities—both physical and digital—and laid the foundation for subsequent measures. One key outcome was the creation of the Référentiel Général d’Accessibilité pour les Administrations (RGAA) in 2009, which serves as both a methodology for applying the WCAG guidelines and a consolidated reference for web accessibility obligations applicable to public and private entities.

While these regulations were a significant step forward, compliance with the EAA has required France to update its national legislation, extending accessibility obligations to the private sector, including e-commerce platforms, banking services, transport services, and audiovisual media. France mandates that digital services adhere to the EN 301 549 standards, and the EAA will broaden the scope of these requirements to cover a wider range of products and services, introducing new deadlines and obligations by June 2025.

Germany implemented the EAA through the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), or Accessibility Strengthening Act, passed on July 22, 2021. This law aims to make key products and services, such as electronic devices, payment systems, e-commerce platforms, and banking services, accessible starting June 28, 2025. The BFSG applies to manufacturers, importers, distributors, and service providers, with an exemption for micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees. The law ensures that products and services can be used by people with disabilities without the need for external assistance. It also introduces monitoring by authorities to ensure compliance, with fines of up to 100,000 euros for violations. An executive order supporting the law will take effect alongside it in 2025.

A key difference from previous regulations is that national rules were not uniform, often allowing for varying interpretations among EU member states. The EAA creates a unified and binding framework across Europe. This does not mean that countries will abandon their national regulations, but rather adapt them to align with the European framework.

Ratification of the EAA follows the national legislative processes of each country. In Italy, for example, this was achieved through a legislative decree that brought national laws into line with EU obligations. Similarly, in France and Germany, national legislative assemblies amended or supplemented existing laws to meet EAA requirements.

In summary, the European Accessibility Act is ushering in a new era of accessibility in Europe. Both public and private sectors will need to collaborate to ensure that all citizens, regardless of physical or sensory abilities, can access products and services without barriers.

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