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Europe
European Union
European Accessibility Act (EAA)EN 301 549 v3.2.1WCAG 2.1 AA WCAG 2.1 AA
The EU enforces accessibility through the European Accessibility Act and the Web Accessibility Directive. From June 2025, private sector digital services must comply. EN 301 549 v3.2.1 is the harmonized technical standard referencing WCAG 2.1 AA.
Legal Framework
The European Accessibility Act (EAA, Directive 2019/882) requires accessibility for digital products and services by June 28, 2025. Technical requirements are defined in EN 301 549, which harmonizes with WCAG 2.1 AA.
Who Must Comply
- Private sector digital services (e-commerce, banking, transport)
- Public sector websites (since 2020 via Web Accessibility Directive)
- Mobile applications
- E-books and e-readers
- ATMs and payment terminals
Key Technical Requirements
Text alternatives for all non-text content
Captions for all pre-recorded audio and video
Content adaptable to different presentations
Sufficient color contrast (4.5:1 minimum)
Keyboard accessible without specific timings
Users can pause, stop, or hide moving content
Language of page programmatically determined
No input from accessibility features blocked
Enforcement & Penalties
Varies by member state. Significant fines and market access restrictions for non-compliant products.
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