It’s here: The European Accessibility Act 2025

Written on July 1, 2024. Posted in Accessibility.

A groundbreaking new law will become effective across the European Union in 2025, marking a significant step towards a more inclusive and accessible society.

The European Accessibility Act 2025 aims to break down barriers and ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to all aspects of life, from digital services to public spaces and everyday products.

As we prepare for the changes ahead, let’s explore what the Act means for businesses, individuals, and the future of accessibility in the EU.

Purpose and goals of the European Accessibility Act 2025

The goal of the European Accessibility Act 2025 is to create a more inclusive society by making sure that people with disabilities have equal access to everything: goods, services, and public spaces. The main goals of the Act are:

Making sure that both physical and digital environments are accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.
Providing people with disabilities the same opportunities as everyone else fosters an inclusive society.
Establishing uniform accessibility standards across the EU to simplify compliance for businesses and public institutions.

The act, set to be implemented in 2025, mandates that private sector offerings, including websites, apps, and other services, must be accessible. This expansion from the public sector to the private sector addresses a critical need for serious accessibility measures.

Who’s impacted by this Act

The European Accessibility Act 2025 will bring significant changes to several sectors, ensuring accessibility for people with disabilities. Some of the sectors impacted are banking services, transportation systems, media and publishing, and more.

And guess what? Digital services are the ones that will experience the most important changes.

Websites and mobile applications are among the most critical areas impacted by the Act. The most significant impact of the European Accessibility Act 2025 on ecommerce is the requirement for websites, webshops, and mobile apps to become fully accessible. Here’s what it means:

Websites and apps must be designed to be navigable and usable by everyone, including those with visual, auditory, or motor impairments.
By making online shops accessible, businesses can open their doors to a broader customer base. All users must be able to browse, select, and buy products easily.

Why you should care about these changes

Around 27% of individuals in the EU are living with disabilities and face daily issues in accessing digital products and services. That is a big problem.

The European Accessibility Act addresses these challenges by setting rules that require businesses to make their offerings more accessible. With the Act, more people can independently access the online world without needing extra support, promoting inclusivity and equal opportunities.

For ecommerce brands, making their shops compliant means:

Tapping into the whole market, increasing sales and customer loyalty.
Avoiding lawsuits, fines, and damage to your brand’s reputation.
Improving the user experience.
Higher customer satisfaction and better conversion rates.
Attracting more customers who value ethical practices.

Is there a deadline for the European Accessibility Act 2025

The European Accessibility Act was formally adopted by the EU in 2019, with a clear timeline for implementation. These regulations must be enforced by June 2025, ensuring complete compliance across the EU. Becoming fully compliant was divided into phases, allowing businesses and public institutions enough time to adapt to the new requirements.

Don’t worry, you can still catch up. We’re here to help.

Keep in mind that non-compliance could lead to legal challenges, fines, and damage to brand reputation. Businesses that fail to adhere to the European Accessibility Act 2025 risk losing a substantial portion of the consumer base, including the 27% of individuals with disabilities in the EU.

On the other side, businesses that proactively embrace the European Accessibility Act stand to gain numerous benefits. Compliance opens up access to a wider audience, improves customer satisfaction and loyalty, and positions the brand as a socially responsible leader. Accessible design often leads to overall better usability for all customers, not just those with disabilities, further boosting the company’s reputation and market reach.

How to prepare for this

To prepare for the European Accessibility Act 2025, businesses should take steps to ensure compliance and see the opportunities it presents. Here are some actions businesses can take:

Consult with accessibility experts who specialize in web accessibility can provide tests, invaluable insights, potential problems, and innovative solutions. We can help you with this.
Building a culture of inclusivity starts with education. Train your people on web accessibility best practices and give them the skills needed to create accessible content, but this comes after website accessibility remediation.
Allocate adequate budget and resources for necessary changes and future upgrades.
The European Accessibility Act implementation guidelines and requirements are expected to evolve over time. So, follow the future updates.

👉 Do a website accessibility test and see how compliant you are!

Conclusion

The European Accessibility Act 2025 marks a significant step towards a more inclusive and accessible world. Let’s break down barriers and ensure equal opportunities for people with disabilities!

The European Accessibility Act 2025 aims to create a society where everyone can fully participate. As we move towards implementing this Act, all businesses, public institutions, and individuals must work together to embrace the principles of accessibility and inclusivity.

So, stay informed – get prepared! If you have any questions or need guidance on how to comply with the upcoming European Accessibility Act, reach out. Let’s make accessibility a reality for everyone.