Web accessibility is more than just a legal requirement. It is the key to an inclusive and user-friendly online presence. With an accessible website, you ensure that all people, regardless of their abilities, can easily access your content.
This not only strengthens your brand image, but also expands your reach by addressing new target groups. This is because digital accessibility supports compliance with web standards, which leads to better search engine indexing.
In June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force.
It obliges companies to make digital services accessible. This primarily affects online shops, mobile apps and other digital services.
Implementing the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1) ensures that your website complies with international standards.
Further questions about the European Accessibility Act
What are the requirements of the European Accessibility Act (EAA)? The EAA obliges private companies and organisations to offer new digital products and services without barriers from 28 June 2025. There is a transitional period until 27 July 2030 for existing products and services, which primarily affects digital services in e-commerce such as online shops, websites and apps.
For whom is the EAA mandatory? The EAA comes into force on 28 June 2025 and affects digital products such as websites, apps and online shops. It includes telecommunications services, e-books, mobile services in interregional passenger transport, banking services, e-commerce and interactive self-service terminals in local transport.
To whom does the EAA not apply? Are there any exceptions? Micro-enterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total of no more than €2 million are exempt from the accessibility obligation for online services if they only offer services. This exemption does not apply to the online sale of products. Companies can apply for an exemption if the burden is disproportionate. Violations may result in fines of up to €100,000.
Our checklist will help you with the most important points that are part of an accessible website according to WCAG.
- 1. navigation
- • Standardised arrangement and consistency of navigation.
- • Clearly understandable and descriptive link texts.
- • Alternatives to navigation, e.g. search function or sitemap.
- • Keyboard control of navigation elements.
- 2. page structure
- • Logical arrangement of content in the HTML source text.
- • Correct use of HTML headings (h1, h2, h3).
- • Structured organisation using headings and paragraphs.
- 3. text and font design
- • Ensure sufficiently high contrast between text and background (at least 4.5:1).
- • Enlargeable text without loss of functionality.
- • No exclusive use of colours to convey information.
- 4. multimedia and interactive elements
- • Subtitles for videos and transcripts for audio content.
- • Controllable automatic content (e.g. pause function for videos).
- • Alternative texts (ALT attributes) for images and graphics.
- 5. forms
- • Clear and meaningful labelling of form fields.
- • Accessible captchas (e.g. text-based alternatives).
- • Error messages and correction recommendations for incorrect entries.
- 6. language settings
- • Declaration of the main and foreign languages in the HTML code.
- • Option for content in plain language.
- 7. technical requirements
- • Standard-compliant and error-free HTML code.
- • Responsive design for readability on mobile devices and when enlarged.
20 years of experience
Sectors: Finance, Medical Technology, Industry, Trade Marketing
Spectrum: Strategy, Business stationary, Workshops, Branding, Positioning, Logo development, Web