EAA – Accessibility Glossary
What is the EAA?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a directive by the European Union aimed at improving the accessibility of key products and services across member states. It ensures that people with disabilities can use a broad range of digital and physical services without barriers.
Scope of the EAA
The EAA applies to both public and private sectors, covering areas like:
- ATMs and banking services
- E-books and e-readers
- E-commerce websites
- Ticketing and transport systems
- Telecommunication services
Legal Impact
EU member states, including Germany, must transpose the EAA into national law and ensure compliance by June 28, 2025. Companies must redesign or update their products and platforms to meet these accessibility standards.
Goal
The EAA helps create a more inclusive digital single market and ensures equal participation for all people, especially those with visual, auditory, cognitive, or physical impairments.
The European Accessibility Act obliges companies to offer certain products and services in an accessible way. These include online shops, banking services, e-books, telecommunications and passenger transport services. The directive applies across the EU; in Germany it was implemented through the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG), which has applied since 28 June 2025.
Micro-enterprises with fewer than ten employees and an annual turnover of no more than two million euros are exempt for services. Everyone else must assess their offers against the European standard EN 301 549 and therefore WCAG, and provide an accessibility statement. Market surveillance authorities can punish violations with fines.
For operators of online shops and portals this means: take stock now, remove barriers in the checkout, forms and account management, and clarify responsibilities. We support TYPO3 projects with audits, action plans and technical implementation.
A sensible first step is classification: does your offer fall under the BFSG, and if so, which areas – shop, customer account, support, documents? After that, decide who is responsible internally and schedule annual checks so that conformity is maintained even after changes to the website.
In short: EAA Explained: EU Accessibility Rules for Digital Products.
