Good communication reaches its audience. All of its audience.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) — Directive 2019/882 — came into force in all Member States of the European Union on 28 June 2025. For NGOs, international organizations and institutions operating in or for the European Union, this text marks a turning point: digital accessibility is no longer a design preference or a CSR initiative. It is a legal requirement.

But beyond compliance, the EAA asks a more fundamental question for any organization committed to inclusion: does your digital presence really reach the people you say you serve?

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act is a European directive that requires that many digital products and services be accessible to people with disabilities. It applies to any organization that provides products or services to consumers in the EU — including organizations headquartered outside the EU, as long as they operate on the European market.

The directive is based on the principle FOR: digital content must be Noticeable, Operable, Understandable and Robust. Concretely, compliance now means respecting the WCAG 2.1 Level AA standard — as integrated into the European standard EN 301 549. The next version of EN 301 549, expected in 2026, will include WCAG 2.2, approved as an ISO standard (ISO/IEC 40500:2025) in October 2025. Organizations have an interest in targeting WCAG 2.2 directly to avoid an additional update in the short term.

Why is the EAA particularly relevant to NGOs and international organizations?

101 million people — one in four people over the age of 16 in Europe — live with a disability. For organizations whose mandate includes equity, human rights, public service, or social impact, an inaccessible website is not only a compliance gap. It is a contradiction.

There is also a practical dimension. Non-compliance with the directive has real consequences:

• Fines of up to €100,000 or 4% of annual turnover, depending on the Member State
• Exclusion of public procurement processes
• Reputation damage with donors, partners and institutional funders

For organizations that depend on public trust and institutional credibility, these risks are not abstract.

What sectors and organizations are affected by the EAA?

E-commerce and online service providers

All websites and applications for consumers. Organizations must also publish an accessibility statement detailing how they meet the requirements of the directive.

Transport and airlines

Websites, mobile applications, ticketing services, terminals, real-time travel information. The directive applies to non-European airlines if they operate departures from EU territory.

Financial services

Banking websites, mobile applications, vending machines and payment terminals — the entire digital customer relationship.

Media and telecommunications

Streaming platforms, communication tools and multimedia equipment. The requirements apply to both the content and the services used to broadcast it.

B2B and B2G organizations

This is the area that most organizations overlook. If you sell technology or software to customers in the public or private sectors, these customers will increasingly require EAA compliance in their purchasing processes. Compliance is becoming a business requirement, not just a regulatory one.

What does WCAG 2.1 AA compliance mean in practice?

WCAG 2.1 AA is the technical standard that underlies EAA compliance. Respecting it implies, at a minimum:

• Keyboard navigation : all the functionalities of the site must be usable without a mouse
• Screen reader compatibility : the content must be readable by assistive technologies
• Text alternatives : all non-text content (images, icons, graphics) must have descriptive alternative text
• Sufficient contrasts : a minimum contrast ratio of 4. 5:1 between text and background
• Accessible forms : labels, error messages, and instructions should be clear and correctly associated with fields

What are the compliance deadlines?

• June 28, 2025 : all new products and services placed on the market must comply immediately
• June 28, 2030 : products and services that were already online before June 2025 have a deadline until that date — or until their next update, whichever comes first

Who is exempt?Microenterprises — defined as organizations with fewer than 10 employees with a turnover or annual balance sheet of less than 2 million euros — are currently exempt. Pre-recorded media published before June 2025 and third-party content outside of your control are also out of scope.

If none of these exceptions apply, your organization is affected.

Accessibility as a communication decision

EAA compliance is the legal minimum. But for organizations that communicate values of inclusion, equity, or public service, the requirement should go beyond what the law imposes.

An inaccessible site sends a message — whether intentional or not. It says something about which audiences you prioritized when building your digital presence, and which audiences you didn't prioritize.

The organizations that communicate best aren't just clear. They are accessible — for everyone they say they serve.

Where to start: a list of concrete actions

1. Audit your site according to WCAG 2.1 AA criteria — identify gaps in navigation, contrasts, alternative texts, and form accessibility
2. Publish an accessibility statement — mandatory under the EAA; it must indicate your level of compliance, the deficiencies identified and the reporting procedures for users
3. Revise your content production process — ensure that any new content published after June 2025 meets accessibility standards as soon as it is created
4. Appoint a manager — accessibility requires a clearly identified point of contact within the organization, not a shared responsibility by default
5. Plan progressively — if full compliance is not immediate, document your roadmap and progress

Key points to remember

What is the EAA? A European directive (2019/882) requiring that digital products and services be accessible to people with disabilities. In force since June 28, 2025.

Who does it apply to? To any organization that provides products or services to consumers in the EU, including those headquartered outside the EU. Micro-businesses are exempt.

What is the technical standard? WCAG 2.1 AA, as integrated into the European standard EN 301 549.

What are the consequences of non-compliance? Fines up to €100,000, exclusion from public contracts and reputational risk.

Is it only a legal issue? No For impact organizations, accessibility is as much a communication and values issue as it is a regulatory issue.