On 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into force. This new law is a significant step in making digital products and services accessible to people with disability. Providers of websites, apps, e-books, ticket outlets and online shops, among others, are legally required to make their services accessible to everyone.
With the introduction of the EAA, digital accessibility has now become mandatory rather than optional. Specifically, this entails:
- Digital products are required to meet accessibility standards (such as WCAG 2.1).
- Accessibility should be factored in from the design phase (by design).
- Existing systems need to be modified to meet new requirements. Sometimes there will be a transition period.
- Businesses will be subject to fines if they fail to comply.
What does this mean for civil servants and public service employees?
The EAA focuses on the private sector. Government websites and apps have already been covered by the Government Digital Accessibility Decree (Dutch) since 2018. These obligations remain unchanged with the introduction of the EAA. However, it is essential to take the new European requirements into account in procurement processes. Moreover, the new law strengthens the focus on digital inclusion in policy, ICT and services.
More information
The new law will come into force on 28 June. To learn more about it, please visit the European Commission’s website.
