Starting June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into effect across Europe. This new legislation requires many companies to make their digital products and services — such as websites, apps, e-commerce platforms, and even ticketing systems — accessible to all users, including people with disabilities.
Accessibility is no longer a “nice-to-have.” It’s becoming a legal requirement — and a competitive advantage. In this blog, we’ll explain what the EAA entails, who it applies to, and how you can start preparing today.
What is the EAA?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is EU legislation aimed at ensuring equal access to a range of products and services for people with disabilities. The law will significantly impact industries such as tech, e-commerce, transport, and financial services — and applies to both public and private organizations.
This includes:
- Websites and webshops
- Mobile apps
- Payment terminals, kiosks, and ticketing systems
- Digital communication (e.g. PDFs, customer portals)
For us as a digital agency, this means every new or redesigned website will need to follow digital accessibility standards, specifically the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines).
Who needs to comply?
The EAA applies to most businesses, with some key exceptions:
- SMEs with fewer than 10 employees, or
- An annual turnover under €2 million
These businesses are exempt from the legal requirement — but even they are strongly encouraged to prioritize accessibility. Why? Beyond social responsibility, there are practical advantages:
- Better SEO (search engine visibility)
- Improved access for elderly and mobile users
- Increased usability and higher conversions
What if your website is already live?
Key date: June 28, 2025.
Is your website live before that date? Then a transition period applies until 2030.
Products developed before that date get a 5-year grace period.
However, during this time, you’re still expected to make reasonable efforts to improve accessibility.
In short: waiting until 2030 isn’t a smart strategy. Even outside of legal pressure, you don’t want to lose users because your website isn’t inclusive.
How can you tell if your site is accessible?
Accessibility is more than just adding alt-texts. The WCAG guidelines include things like:
- Contrast and color usage
- Keyboard navigation (for users who don’t use a mouse)
- Proper structure and semantics (titles, headers, buttons)
- Use of video, animation, and interactive elements
Don’t worry — you don’t have to figure this out alone.
How Purple Panda can help
As a digital agency, we’ve always focused on creating powerful, user-friendly websites. Now that accessibility is becoming a legal standard, we’re here to take things even further:
- Audit – We review your website using WCAG standards
- Solutions – We fix key issues like poor contrast or confusing navigation
- Checklist & Advice – We guide you with clear steps and actionable tips
For larger projects, we partner with an accessibility expert within our group who conducts in-depth testing that goes beyond what online tools can offer — giving you complete peace of mind.
Why act now?
Don’t wait until it’s mandatory. By working on accessibility now, you:
- Stay legally compliant
- Boost SEO and conversion rates
- Demonstrate social responsibility
- Build a stronger, more inclusive brand
Already have a website — or planning one soon? Let’s get in contact.
Let us know how we can help you get ready for 2025 — and more importantly, for every user.
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