By June 28, 2025, companies must comply with theEuropean Accessibility Act, a directive issued to ensure that digital products and services are accessible to all, including those with disabilities. Digital accessibility thus becomes a priority both for regulatory compliance and to strengthen brand reputation and expand one’s market by reaching new customers. But what are its areas of application and implications? Let’s find out the details and how to take action to be compliant.

The EuropeanAccessibility Act, adopted by the European Union, is a directive that aims to eliminate digital barriers through uniform accessibility standards for digital products and services. The main goal is to promote inclusion by ensuring that people with disabilities can access essential technologies, frome-commerce to online financial services.

The directive requires member states to incorporate these regulations into their national laws, helping to improvesubstantive equality, which aims to overcome de facto inequalities by providing tools and measures to ensure real equality of opportunity for all.

Companies must comply with the EAA by June 28, 2025 to avoid penalties.

The EAA applies to a wide range of digital products and services. These include:

• Online services such as e-commerce platforms, mobile apps and software.
• Technology products such as computers, smartphones, and payment terminals.
• Public transportation services and digital banking systems.

This broad coverage aims to ensure that all digital experiences are inclusive. For example, corporate websites must comply with WCAG 2.2 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), minimizing barriers for those using assistive technologies.

The directive applies to entities offering products and services in the European market, including:

• Technology companies that design software and hardware.
• Public and private organizations offering essential services such as transportation or digital payments.
• E-commerce merchants, obliged to make their portals navigable for all.

Failure to comply can not only result in penalties, but also severely damage brand reputation as more and more consumers and stakeholders appreciate a commitment to inclusion.

Not all enterprises need to comply with the regulations. Some exceptions include:

• Microenterprises, that is, companies with fewer than 10 employees and a turnover of less than 2 million euros.
• Specific sectors that do not fall into the categories regulated by the directive.
• Businesses that would suffer a disproportionate burden if they had to comply with accessibility requirements; in this case, a statement is to be prepared that they would be unable to bear the costs of compliance.

EAA compliance may seem complex, but there are practical solutions:

1. Accessibility audit: verify that your site meets WCAG guidelines.
2. Inclusive design: uses tools and technologies to make the site accessible, such as integrating screen readers.
3. Expert support: rely on professionals to ensure a smooth and complete transition to increasingly accessible platforms and content.

Digital accessibility can be a lever of innovation and social responsibility. Joining the EAA is an investment in the future of your brand and in digital equality. Orbyta Tax&Legal will be able to advise you so that you can check whether you are among those obliged to comply, preparing all the necessary documentation to make you compliant with the European directive to avoid incurring penalties.

In addition, with the support of Orbyta Tech, we offer accessible design solutions and targeted interventions to design interfaces that comply with the standards, in order to enhance and facilitatedigital interaction for each type of user.