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European Accessibility Act (EAA): The Foundation of EU-Wide Accessibility

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), officially known as Directive (EU) 2019/882, is the fundamental framework for harmonizing accessibility requirements across the European Union. It establishes a uniform standard for the accessibility of products and services throughout the EU internal market. In Germany, the EAA forms the direct legal basis for the Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG). Since the implementation deadline in June 2025 has passed, companies must ensure in 2026 that their digital offerings comply with the EAA requirements.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

Unified standards in the EU internal market

Before the introduction of the EAA, different EU member states had varying accessibility laws. This often created barriers for companies offering products across borders. The EAA establishes a level playing field by defining common requirements. For website operators, this means that an EAA-compliant WordPress site meets fundamental accessibility standards in all EU countries.

Promoting social participation

The EAA has transformed accessibility from a voluntary measure into a mandatory condition for market access. The directive aims to provide over 80 million people with disabilities in the EU equal access to essential digital services such as online commerce, banking, and electronic communication.

Affected products and services

Online commerce and e-commerce

All services in e-commerce targeting consumers fall under the EAA. This includes not only the webshop itself but also the provision of information on the accessibility of offered products and the entire digital checkout process.

Financial and banking services

All digital payment systems, online banking, and the use of ATMs and self-service terminals must be designed so that they can be used independently by people with disabilities. This also applies to the web interfaces used for these services.

Telecommunications, e-books, and media

Services such as e-books, dedicated software for accessing media content, and electronic communication services (e.g., messaging or video calling) must meet the strict requirements of the EU directive.

From EAA to national law

Implementation through BFSG in Germany

Although the EAA is a European directive, it had to be transposed into national law by each member state. In Germany, this was done through the Accessibility Enhancement Act (BFSG). While the EAA provides the EU-wide framework, the BFSG defines concrete obligations, deadlines, and sanctions for the German market.

Legal certainty and monitoring in 2026

Since the official deadline was June 28, 2025, 2026 is the phase of active monitoring by market surveillance authorities. Companies operating in other EU countries must also note that national authorities in those member states are now strictly checking EAA compliance.

Compliance solutions with MH-Accessibility Pro

Complying with an EU-wide directive requires a flexible system that adapts to various technical standards. MH-Accessibility Pro helps you implement the EAA requirements on your WordPress site:

  • International standards as a foundation: Since the EAA is technically based on EN 301 549 and thus on the WCAG, our plugin covers the essential success criteria for accessible usage.
  • Support for legally compliant documentation: Meet the information obligations of the EAA and BFSG by creating a solid accessibility statement with our Statement Generator.
  • Individual accessibility: Features such as the ADHD Mode or the Reading Mask directly address the EAA requirement for perceivable and understandable user interfaces.

Conclusion: A standard for all of Europe

The European Accessibility Act has made accessibility an integral part of the European economy. For your company, complying with this directive not only provides legal certainty but also ensures access to a market of hundreds of millions of potential customers. With MH-Accessibility Pro, your website is ready for the European internal market.

Do you want to make your website EU-wide accessible? Rely on a legally compliant solution according to EAA standards. View Pricing