On 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force, and it is set to transform the digital landscape for businesses across the EU, including Ireland. This new law mandates that digital products and services are designed to be accessible to people with disabilities.
“Accessibility is not just a legislative requirement or a business consideration – it’s a social responsibility. At Matrix, we believe that digital experiences should be usable by everyone, regardless of ability. Embracing accessibility is a chance to do better by our users and lead by example.” — Jeff Sheridan, Managing Director, Matrix Internet
Its scope is broad – covering everything from websites and mobile apps to self-service kiosks (like ATMs and ticket machines), e-readers and smartphones, online banking platforms, e-commerce sites, transport information systems, and more. In short, if you offer digital tools or content in the EU – whether in retail, finance, travel, media or consumer devices – you will likely be affected. Below, we explain what the EAA entails, why it matters for user experience (UX) and your business, and how you can prepare.
The European Accessibility Act is an EU directive (Directive (EU) 2019/882) aimed at harmonising accessibility requirements across member states. By introducing common rules for accessible products and services, the EAA seeks to remove fragmented national standards and ensure a single market for accessibility. According to the European Commission, businesses will benefit from uniform EU rules that reduce costs, ease cross-border trade, and open new market opportunities for accessible offerings. . Meanwhile, persons with disabilities (and the elderly) will benefit from a greater availability of accessible products and services – often at more competitive prices – and face fewer barriers in areas like transport, education and online services. In other words, the EAA is not only a civil rights initiative but also a push for innovation and inclusivity in the European digital economy.
The EAA applies to both public and private sector organisations that provide the products or services within its scope. This includes manufacturers, digital service providers, and any business responsible for offering those products or services in the EU. Notably, micro-enterprises (companies with fewer than 10 employees and under €2 million turnover) are exempt from the EAA’s requirements for services. However, even small businesses are encouraged to voluntarily improve accessibility, since doing so can expand their customer base and demonstrate social responsibility.
The Act targets areas that are most important for people with disabilities and that previously had varying rules across Europe. These include digital and self-service products like:
In practice, if your business offers an app, website or interactive device that consumers use, accessibility requirements will likely apply. The law emphasizes providing multi-sensory access – for instance, alternatives for both audio and visual content – and user interfaces that can be operated by people with varying abilities. The overarching principle is to “design with accessibility in mind” from the start, rather than retrofit as an afterthought.
How do you ensure your website or app is accessible under the EAA? In technical terms, the Act aligns with well-established accessibility standards. EN 301 549 is the EU’s harmonised standard for ICT accessibility, and it incorporates the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at the AA level. In fact, designing to WCAG 2.1 AA is widely considered essential for web and mobile content to meet the EAA requirements. While the legislation itself doesn’t list specific technical checklists, conforming to WCAG 2.1 AA provides a “gold standard” benchmark and gives a presumption of conformity under the law. This means ensuring features like text alternatives for images, captions for video/audio, proper heading structures, keyboard navigation support, sufficient colour contrast, and so on, as detailed in WCAG. Many businesses will recognise these as the same guidelines already expected of public sector websites in the EU (under the separate Web Accessibility Directive). Now, similar expectations will extend to private-sector digital products and services as well. It’s important to note that meeting these standards isn’t just about avoiding penalties – it’s about making your digital content usable by as many people as possible. An accessible site or application improves the experience for all users, not only those with disabilities, by adhering to good design principles like clarity, consistency, and device compatibility.
The European Accessibility Act has real teeth. EU member states are responsible for enforcement, and in Ireland the Act is implemented via the Accessibility Requirements (Products and Services) Regulations 2023, coming into effect on 28 June 2025. Regulators have been given powers to monitor and ensure compliance. For example, Ireland’s Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will act as a market surveillance authority for products, and other regulators (such as media or banking regulators) will oversee services in their sectors. Critically, the law comes with significant penalties. In Ireland, failure to comply with the EAA can lead to a summary fine up to €5,000 (and/or 6 months imprisonment), and for more serious offenses tried on indictment, fines up to €60,000 or up to 18 months in prison (or both) for responsible individuals. Company directors and officers can be held personally liable for accessibility breaches. – a clear sign that accessibility is being taken as seriously as other compliance areas. Beyond these direct penalties, non-compliance can trigger other consequences. Regulators may issue orders to stop selling or offering non-conforming products/services until issues are fixed. Private lawsuits are also a risk: under the Irish regulations, individual consumers (potentially backed by advocacy groups) can bring legal action against non-compliant businesses in court. This means enforcement isn’t only top-down – it can be driven bottom-up by customers asserting their rights. The reputational damage from being called out for poor accessibility can be severe, leading to negative publicity and loss of trust. In competitive terms, if your rivals embrace accessibility and you lag behind, you risk both legal trouble and losing market share as users gravitate towards more inclusive options.
The clock is ticking: from 28 June 2025 onward, any new product or service in scope must comply, and existing ones will need to be upgraded if they undergo substantial updates. (There are some limited exceptions – for instance, legacy self-service kiosks installed before 2025 can remain until end-of-life, and services can use older products until 2030 if a retrofit would fundamentally alter them. – but these are narrow and require documented justification.) The safest course for any business is to assume the rules apply and act accordingly, rather than hoping for an exemption.
Ensuring compliance with the EAA is not just a legal duty – it’s also good business and good design practice. There’s a common misconception that accessibility limits creativity or the results are bland, stripped-back UI, but the opposite is true. Designing with accessibility in mind leads to smarter, more intuitive experiences for everyone. Accessible design is not about doing less. it’s about doing better,clearer typography, better contrast, responsive layouts, and content that’s usable by all. It elevates design, rather than constraining it. Here are key reasons why focusing on accessibility will benefit your organisation beyond simply avoiding fines:
“Accessible websites are not only better for users, they’re better for search engines too. Many of the principles behind accessibility — such as clear structure, alternative text and fast load times — align with SEO best practices. At Matrix, we see accessibility as part of a holistic strategy that improves visibility, usability and long-term performance.” — Srdjan Nikolic, Senior SEO Specialist, Matrix Internet
Making your digital products accessible results in a win–win: you comply with the law and deliver a superior, inclusive user experience. The EAA is essentially enforcing what UX professionals have long advocated – that designing with diverse users in mind leads to better outcomes all around.
With the 2025 deadline upon us, every organisation should take concrete steps to ensure their websites, apps, and other digital systems meet the required standards. Here is an action plan to guide your preparation:
By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to meeting the EAA requirements. Remember that accessibility compliance is an ongoing process, not a one-time project. After June 2025, continue to monitor changes in standards (for instance, WCAG 2.2 or 3.0 in the future) and user feedback to keep improving.
“At Matrix, we see accessibility not as a checkbox, but as a commitment to digital inclusivity for everyone. It’s more than compliance; it’s designing with empathy in mind. As a UX designer, I see it as a priority – something that’s included in the design process rather than an afterthought.” — Zahra Alboqub, UX Designer & Researcher at Matrix Internet
The European Accessibility Act represents a new era where accessible design is the default for digital products. For businesses across Europe, this is a call to action to elevate their UX by making it inclusive for all users. While the compliance deadline brings urgency, it’s helpful to view accessibility improvements as an investment that will pay off through a wider audience reach, improved user satisfaction, and a stronger brand reputation. By embracing accessibility now, you’re not only avoiding penalties – you’re future-proofing your services and affirming that every customer matters. The EAA makes digital inclusion a legal requirement, but it’s also a chance to demonstrate leadership and empathy in your industry. The takeaway is clear: accessibility isn’t just about meeting a standard, it’s a design mindset and business imperative going forward. Now is the time to act and ensure your digital presence is truly usable by everyone.
Let’s make the web a place where no user is left behind.
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