Accessibility law for websites in the EU: what applies to your business
Which European accessibility rules apply to public bodies and to businesses, what the standard requires, and how to find out whether you are in scope.
The short answer
Two European regimes govern website accessibility. The Web Accessibility Directive requires public sector bodies’ websites and mobile applications to be accessible, to publish an accessibility statement and to provide a feedback mechanism. The European Accessibility Act extends accessibility requirements to a defined list of products and services offered to consumers, including e-commerce services, consumer banking services, electronic communications, elements of passenger transport, e-books and access to audiovisual media services, with obligations applying from 28 June 2025 for services placed on the market from that date and transitional arrangements for some existing services and self-service terminals. Microenterprises providing services, meaning fewer than ten people and turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding two million euros, are exempted from the service obligations, though the exemption does not extend to products. In both regimes the practical technical standard is the harmonised European standard for accessibility requirements in public procurement of information and communication technology, which aligns with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines at level AA. Outside scope, level AA is still the benchmark that procurement, clients and courts refer to.
Who is covered by what
| Organisation | Regime | Obligation |
|---|---|---|
| Public sector bodies | Web Accessibility Directive, national implementation | Accessible websites and apps; accessibility statement; feedback mechanism; monitoring |
| Business selling online to consumers | European Accessibility Act, if e-commerce services are in scope | Accessibility requirements for the service; information; conformity documentation |
| Consumer banking, e-communications, transport, e-books, audiovisual access | European Accessibility Act | Sector-specific accessibility requirements |
| Microenterprise providing services | Exempted from service obligations | Encouraged to comply; exemption does not cover products |
| Business-to-business website | Generally outside both | Level AA still the practical benchmark |
| Supplier to public sector | Via procurement | Accessibility required by contract |
Finding out where you stand
- Identify what you offer to whom: consumer services, business services, public sector contracts.
- Check the national implementation of the Accessibility Act in the countries where you offer services, since scope details and enforcement sit at national level.
- Check the microenterprise thresholds against your own headcount and finances if you provide services.
- Audit against level AA regardless: automated checks plus keyboard, screen reader and contrast testing.
- Write the accessibility statement if you are in scope, and consider one anyway.
- Fix in priority order: keyboard operability, forms, contrast, structure, alternatives.
- Build it into the pipeline so new pages cannot regress.
- Get legal advice on scope if you are close to a boundary or operating in several member states.
Why build to AA regardless
Because the cost of designing accessibly is close to zero and the cost of retrofitting is substantial. Because public sector and enterprise procurement asks for it and you will meet those tenders. Because a meaningful share of your audience is affected by contrast, keyboard operation or screen reader compatibility, and the improvements help far more people than the formally disabled. And because the same work, semantic structure, real labels, sufficient contrast, that satisfies the standard also improves search visibility and usability for everyone.
What this means for you
Public bodies are covered by the Web Accessibility Directive; businesses offering listed consumer services, including e-commerce, are covered by the European Accessibility Act from 28 June 2025, with a microenterprise exemption for services. Both point to level AA in practice. Check your scope against national implementation, audit against AA, fix in priority order, publish a statement if in scope, and build the checks into your pipeline. This is general information rather than legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Does the European Accessibility Act apply to our website?
It applies to specified products and services offered to consumers, including e-commerce services, consumer banking, electronic communications, transport services, e-books and access to audiovisual media services. A pure business-to-business brochure site is generally outside it, and microenterprises providing services, fewer than ten people and turnover or balance sheet under two million euros, are exempted for services. Scope depends on what you actually offer and to whom, so check against the national implementation of the directive in your country.
What does compliance require in practice?
Meeting the accessibility requirements set out in the directive, which in practice means conforming to the harmonised European standard for information and communication technology, aligned with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines at level AA, and documenting how you meet them. For a website that is the familiar programme: semantic structure, keyboard operability, sufficient contrast, text alternatives, labels and errors on forms, and testing with assistive technology.
What if we are not in scope?
Level AA remains the practical benchmark. Enterprise and public clients ask for it in procurement, it is what disability discrimination claims are judged against in substance, and a substantial share of every audience is affected by contrast, keyboard operation or screen reader compatibility. Building to it costs little when done from the start and a great deal as a retrofit, so the sensible position for any business site is to build to AA regardless of scope.
Sources
- European Commission: European accessibility act (accessed 2026-09-14)
- EUR-Lex: Directive (EU) 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act) (accessed 2026-09-12)
- W3C: Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 (accessed 2026-09-12)