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Ley Europea de Accesibilidad: Guía completa 2026

Quick answer: EAA compliance means conforming to EU Directive 2019/882. Since June 28, 2025, businesses must ensure digital services meet EN 301 549 (WCAG 2.1 AA technical baseline) to be accessible to people with disabilities. Non-compliance can result in fines up to €1 million+ depending on the member state.

La Ley Europea de Accesibilidad (EAA, Directiva 2019/882) es una directiva histórica de la UE que exige que los productos y servicios digitales sean accesibles para las personas con discapacidad. La aplicación comenzó el 28 de junio de 2025.

¿Quién debe cumplir?

La EAA se aplica a las empresas que venden productos o prestan servicios cubiertos a consumidores en la UE. Las microempresas (menos de 10 personas y volumen de negocios anual o balance general de 2 millones € o menos) están exentas solo para los servicios, no para los productos. Los servicios cubiertos incluyen sitios de comercio electrónico, servicios bancarios, venta de billetes de transporte y más.

Multas por país

Cada estado miembro de la UE establece sus propias sanciones. Estas son las principales:

Country Maximum Fine Enforcement Authority
France €7,500 per offence (cumulative) DGCCRF
Germany Up to €100,000 MLBF (Market Surveillance Authority of the Länder)
Italy Up to €40,000 (5% of turnover above €500M revenue) AgID
Spain Up to €1,000,000 Regional market-surveillance authorities
Netherlands No published EAA ceiling (duty to self-report) Authority for Consumers & Markets
Portugal Up to ~€44,891 ASAE & sector regulators
Poland Up to ~€21,000 (capped at 10% of turnover) PFRON
Sweden Up to SEK 10M (~€900,000) Post and Telecom Authority

See the detailed EAA fines and enforcement cases by country for jurisdiction-specific penalty regimes and real enforcement actions.

¿Qué exige la EAA?

  • Perceptible: Alternativas de texto para imágenes, subtítulos para vídeos, contraste suficiente
  • Operable: Accesibilidad por teclado, tiempo suficiente para interacciones, sin contenido que provoque convulsiones
  • Comprensible: Lenguaje claro, navegación predecible, asistencia en la entrada de datos
  • Robusto: Compatible con tecnologías de asistencia, HTML válido, uso adecuado de ARIA

EAA Compliance Checklist

Use this practical checklist to audit your digital service against the core European Accessibility Act requirements:

  1. WCAG 2.1 Level AA conformance — keyboard navigation, sufficient colour contrast (4.5:1 for normal text), alt text on images, labelled form fields, and screen reader compatibility. Use our free accessibility checker to scan your site.
  2. Accessibility statement — required under EAA Article 13. Must describe the accessibility level achieved, known limitations, and last review date. Generate one free with our accessibility statement generator.
  3. Complaint mechanism — provide a clearly accessible contact method for users to report accessibility barriers and request information in accessible formats.
  4. EN 301 549 additional requirements — beyond WCAG 2.1 AA, EN 301 549 covers mobile apps, non-web software, and hardware. Review clauses 5–13 if your service includes native apps.
  5. Verify microenterprise exemption — confirm your company status: fewer than 10 employees AND under €2M annual turnover for service providers. Note: product manufacturers are not exempt.
  6. Check for disproportionate burden exceptions — document any accessibility requirements you cannot meet due to undue financial or organisational burden (EAA Article 14). This must be formally assessed and documented.
Check EAA Compliance Free Generate Accessibility Statement

Plazos clave

  • 28 de junio de 2025 — Comienza la aplicación
  • 28 de junio de 2030 — Finaliza el período de gracia para algunos servicios existentes

Frequently Asked Questions — EAA Compliance

What is EAA compliance?

EAA compliance means meeting EU Directive 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act) requirements. Businesses must ensure digital products and services conform to EN 301 549, which references WCAG 2.1 Level AA as its technical baseline. Enforcement began June 28, 2025 across all 27 EU member states.

Who must comply with the European Accessibility Act?

The EAA applies to businesses offering e-commerce, banking, telecom, transport, e-book, and audiovisual services to EU consumers. It covers both products and services. Microenterprises providing services (fewer than 10 employees AND under €2M annual turnover) are exempt — but this exemption does not apply to product manufacturers.

What is the EAA compliance deadline?

The European Accessibility Act enforcement deadline was June 28, 2025. From this date, all new digital products and services offered to EU consumers must comply with EN 301 549. Some member states allow transition periods until 2030 for long-term service contracts signed before the deadline.

What are the fines for EAA non-compliance?

EAA fines are set nationally. Maximum penalties include Hungary (about €1.3 million, or 5% of net revenue), Spain (€1,000,000), Germany (€100,000), Italy (€40,000, or 5% of turnover above €500 million revenue) and France (€7,500 per offence, cumulative). Most enforcement authorities issue a remediation order before financial penalties.

Does the EAA apply to non-EU companies?

Yes. The EAA applies based on where the service is offered — not where the company is headquartered. Any business offering products or services to EU consumers must comply, regardless of whether it is based in the US, UK, or any other country outside the EU.

What WCAG level is required for EAA compliance?

The EAA requires conformance with EN 301 549, which references WCAG 2.1 Level AA as its technical accessibility baseline. WCAG 2.2 Level AA is backwards-compatible with all WCAG 2.1 AA criteria and is the current recommended standard. Meeting WCAG 2.2 AA satisfies the EAA technical requirements.

What is the microenterprise exemption under the EAA?

Microenterprises providing services are exempt if they have fewer than 10 employees AND less than €2 million in annual turnover. This exemption applies only to service providers — not to manufacturers or importers of EAA-covered products such as computers, smartphones, ticket machines, or ATMs.

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