What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) represents a transformative legislative initiative of the European Union that was launched with the ambitious goal of significantly improving the accessibility of products and services for people with disabilities. This law, which is considered a milestone in the development of a more inclusive Europe, aims to promote equality and participation in social and economic life for all citizens. It is a commitment to a Europe in which the diversity of needs and abilities of its people is recognized and valued, and in which equal access to essential offers and services is not just a vision, but a living reality.

With the EAA, the European Union is sending a clear signal that accessibility is a fundamental human right. The directive goes beyond the mere provision of services and addresses the need to design products and digital environments in such a way that they are inclusive from the outset. This approach reflects a deep understanding that accessibility and usability go hand in hand and that creating accessible environments is not only ethical but also makes good business sense. In this sense, the EAA is not only a legislative act, but also a guide for innovation and progress that sets the course for a future in which no one is left behind.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a comprehensive directive that aims to remove the many barriers that people with disabilities may encounter in everyday life. These barriers range from physical hurdles to those in the digital world and can make participation in social and economic life considerably more difficult. The directive covers a wide range of products and services, including not only electronic devices and e-commerce, but also banking services and the entire spectrum of transportation – from booking to the journey itself.

The core idea of the EAA is the seamless integration of accessibility into the entire life cycle of products and services. This begins with the concept and extends through development to final deployment. The aim is to create a design for everyone that takes into account the diversity of users and their different needs. Accessibility should not be an afterthought, but a central part of the design process. This approach not only promotes inclusion, but also contributes to innovation by stimulating the development of products and services that are attractive to a broader market and improve the user experience for all.

When does the European Accessibility Act apply?

The directive, which was adopted in June 2019, lays the foundation for a comprehensive transformation in the area of digital accessibility within the European Union. With the deadline of June 28, 2025 for transposition into national law, website operators, app developers and computer game creators are faced with the task of designing their offerings in accordance with the new requirements. These players must now ensure that their digital content and functions are accessible to people with a wide range of disabilities. This includes the implementation of accessible functions such as screen reader compatibility, subtitles for videos, alternative texts for images and ensuring usability via keyboard.

For website providers, this means that they must comply with the WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), which are regarded as the international standard for web accessibility. The guidelines cover a wide range of recommendations to make web content more accessible for all users, including those with visual impairments, hearing impairments, motor impairments and cognitive impairments.

App developers are faced with the challenge of designing their applications in such a way that they function barrier-free on different devices and operating systems. This requires careful planning and design of the user interface and consideration of accessibility when selecting colors, font sizes and interaction elements.

Computer game developers must also find innovative solutions to ensure playability for all users. This includes customizing control options, providing settings for color blindness, and integrating assistive features that allow players with different abilities to fully immerse themselves in the gaming experience.

It is crucial that everyone involved gets to grips with the requirements of the EAA at an early stage in order to ensure smooth implementation. The transition period until 2025 should be used to review existing services, carry out accessibility audits and make the necessary technical and design adjustments. By adapting to the requirements of the EAA at an early stage, website providers, app and game developers can not only ensure legal compliance, but also strengthen their market position by offering an inclusive user experience that welcomes all people.

What does the European Accessibility Act regulate?

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) defines clear minimum accessibility standards covering a wide range of products and services to ensure that they are accessible to all users, especially people with disabilities. The areas affected include electronic communication services, which must now be designed in such a way that they can also be used by people with sensory impairments. This includes providing services that are compatible with assistive technologies and ensuring that all information and functions are accessible to users with different disabilities.

For computers and operating systems, the aim is to ensure interoperability with assistive technologies such as screen readers and speech input systems. The user interfaces must be designed so that they can be operated by people with different disabilities, which includes adapting the hardware, software and all associated documentation.

Self-service terminals, such as ATMs and check-in kiosks, must be designed in such a way that they can be used by anyone without assistance. This includes the implementation of voice output, tactile buttons and other assistive technologies that enable people with visual or motor impairments to use the device independently.

In the field of digital media, such as e-books and e-commerce platforms, providers must ensure that their content and transaction processes are accessible to all users, which includes using alternative text for images, providing subtitles and audio descriptions for multimedia content, and ensuring compatibility with different forms of navigation and control.

Banking services must also be accessible to all customers, which means that both physical devices such as ATMs and digital services such as online banking platforms must be adapted accordingly to enable barrier-free use.

In the transport sector, providers are required to design their services in such a way that they can be used by everyone, including the accessibility of booking systems, information displays and the vehicles themselves.

In addition, the EAA requires companies and organizations to set up feedback mechanisms that allow users to evaluate the accessibility of products and services and make suggestions for improvements. This promotes a continuous dialog between users and providers and helps to ensure that products and services are constantly developed in the direction of greater inclusivity. Through these feedback loops, companies can learn directly from the experiences and needs of users and thus improve their offerings, which ultimately leads to higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Conclusion

The European Accessibility Act shows you the way to a market that leaves no one behind. This directive makes it clear that accessibility and inclusion are not only desirable but essential in today’s digital world. For you as a company and developer, the EAA gives you the opportunity to open up your products and services to a wider audience. This is not only a commitment to social responsibility, but also opens up new customer groups.

Even if 2025 still seems some way off, bear in mind that early planning is crucial, especially in the dynamic computer games industry, where development cycles often last two years or longer. Start preparing now so that your games are up to scratch right from the start and you don’t find yourself under pressure at the last minute. Use the time until then wisely to make your offerings not only compliant, but also competitive and future-oriented.

Stay up to date with our latest articles and resources that provide you with valuable information and detailed advice on implementing the European Accessibility Act. This will allow you to approach the coming changes with confidence and strategic vision.

Author: Marian Härtel

Marian Härtel ist Rechtsanwalt und Fachanwalt für IT-Recht mit einer über 25-jährigen Erfahrung als Unternehmer und Berater in den Bereichen Games, E-Sport, Blockchain, SaaS und Künstliche Intelligenz. Seine Beratungsschwerpunkte umfassen neben dem IT-Recht insbesondere das Urheberrecht, Medienrecht sowie Wettbewerbsrecht. Er betreut schwerpunktmäßig Start-ups, Agenturen und Influencer, die er in strategischen Fragen, komplexen Vertragsangelegenheiten sowie bei Investitionsprojekten begleitet. Dabei zeichnet sich seine Beratung durch einen interdisziplinären Ansatz aus, der juristische Expertise und langjährige unternehmerische Erfahrung miteinander verbindet. Ziel seiner Tätigkeit ist stets, Mandanten praxisorientierte Lösungen anzubieten und rechtlich fundierte Unterstützung bei der Umsetzung innovativer Geschäftsmodelle zu gewährleisten.