Starting in June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA), known as the European Accessibility Law, will come fully into effect across all European Union member states. This legislation marks a turning point in the development of digital products, establishing new mandatory accessibility standards. Therefore, far from being a mere legal formality, the EAA represents a paradigm shift in how we design, develop, and maintain digital experiences.
For user experience (UX) design and frontend development teams, this legislation introduces new standards that can no longer be considered optional. They are now essential to comply with the law. Even so, beyond compliance, the EAA reflects a global trend: digital accessibility is no longer a nice-to-have but a fundamental requirement.
In this context, design and development professionals play a key role, as they are the ones who must translate accessibility principles into practical decisions, from information architecture and navigation flows to the correct use of semantic HTML, colors, contrast, and compatibility with assistive technologies.
This guide is intended to help you understand what the EAA means for your role as a UX designer or frontend developer, what changes you need to implement in your projects, and how to prepare to stay up to date with this new European regulation.
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
Approved in 2019, the EAA establishes a common accessibility framework for certain products and services, with the goal of standardizing requirements across the EU, reducing trade barriers, and making daily life easier for millions of citizens with disabilities or functional limitations.
Therefore, starting in June 2025, the enforcement of the law will be mandatory in various areas. Although it was originally focused on products such as ATMs, self-service terminals, e-books, and banking services, the EAA will ultimately cover a broader range of digital platforms and services, such as:
- E-commerce websites and mobile applications.
- Transportation platforms (ticket sales, schedule information, mobility apps).
- Digital financial services.
- E-readers and reading software.
- Operating systems and communication tools.
- On-demand audiovisual media, such as streaming platforms.
This expanded scope means that technology companies, public institutions, and private sector operators will be required to ensure their digital interfaces are accessible to all users. This includes features such as screen readers, subtitles, keyboard navigation, and proper semantic structures.
Practical implications for companies and developers
Organizations will need to carry out (if they haven’t already) accessibility audits and adapt their platforms according to technical standards such as WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) at level AA, which will serve as the basis for evaluation in many cases.
In addition, they will need to establish internal processes that ensure accessibility is maintained throughout the product or service lifecycle, including:
- Development and testing with users with disabilities.
- Accessible technical documentation.
- Adapted customer support.
- Staff training on digital accessibility.
These guidelines also establish a series of criteria that must be met to ensure that a website or application is accessible to as many people as possible, including those with disabilities.
Among the most relevant aspects are the use of adequate color contrast to ensure readability, fully functional keyboard navigation without relying on a mouse, and the implementation of semantic HTML tags that help assistive technologies interpret content. It is also required to provide alternative text for images, maintain a clear heading hierarchy that properly structures information, manage visual focus control accurately on interactive elements, and avoid using content that could cause seizures or discomfort, such as intense or flashing animations.
Best practices in accessibility testing
Accessibility testing should be integrated as a fundamental part of the development cycle, not just as a final review, but as an ongoing practice starting from the early stages of the project. Automated auditing tools like axe, Lighthouse, or Pa11y help quickly identify common accessibility issues, such as missing alt text, incorrect heading structures, or inaccessible interactive elements.
However, while these tools work well, they are not sufficient on their own. To ensure real and effective accessibility, it is essential to complement automated audits with manual testing. This includes verifying that navigation is smooth and complete using only the keyboard, without relying on a mouse, and ensuring that all interactive elements can be properly focused and activated.
It is also recommended to perform testing with screen readers, such as NVDA on Windows or VoiceOver on macOS, to check how the content is interpreted and announced to users with visual impairments. In addition, it is important to evaluate color contrast and visual legibility using tools like Stark, Contrast Checker, or Color Oracle, making sure that text is clearly visible for users with low vision or color blindness.
Integrating these practices into the workflow not only improves the quality of the final product but also helps avoid the high costs associated with fixing accessibility issues in the later stages of development.
Conclusion
The entry into force of the European Accessibility Act in June 2025 represents much more than a legal obligation. It is an opportunity to transform the way we design and develop digital experiences within the European Union. This regulation not only enforces compliance with technical standards, but also calls for a profound cultural shift toward a more human, inclusive, and universal approach.
Complying with the EAA means ensuring that all users, regardless of their abilities, can fully and equally interact with digital products. But beyond compliance, it is about embracing an ethical and professional responsibility: creating digital experiences that work for everyone without exception.
Adapting processes, tools, and mindsets around accessibility today not only reduces future risks, but also strengthens product quality, innovation, and sustainability. Accessibility is not a barrier; it is a path toward building a more fair, more democratic, and more future-ready digital environment.
Resources:
[1] Tu Web Accesible – Web Accessibility is already mandatory for private companies
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