European Accessibility Act: Guida Completa 2026
L'European Accessibility Act (EAA, Direttiva 2019/882) è una direttiva UE fondamentale che richiede che prodotti e servizi digitali siano accessibili alle persone con disabilità. L'applicazione è iniziata il 28 giugno 2025.
Chi Deve Conformarsi?
L'EAA riguarda le aziende che vendono prodotti o forniscono servizi coperti ai consumatori nell'UE. Le microimprese (meno di 10 persone e fatturato annuo o totale di bilancio non superiore a €2 milioni) sono esenti solo per i servizi, non per i prodotti. Tra i servizi coperti: siti di e-commerce, servizi bancari, biglietteria dei trasporti e altro.
Multe per Paese
Ogni stato membro UE stabilisce le proprie sanzioni. Ecco le principali:
| 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.
Cosa Richiede l'EAA?
- Percepibile: Alternative testuali per immagini, sottotitoli per video, contrasto sufficiente
- Operabile: Accessibilità da tastiera, tempo sufficiente per interazioni, nessun contenuto che causa attacchi epilettici
- Comprensibile: Linguaggio chiaro, navigazione prevedibile, assistenza nell'input
- Robusto: Compatibile con tecnologie assistive, HTML valido, uso corretto di ARIA
EAA Compliance Checklist
Use this practical checklist to audit your digital service against the core European Accessibility Act requirements:
- 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.
- 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.
- Complaint mechanism — provide a clearly accessible contact method for users to report accessibility barriers and request information in accessible formats.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Scadenze Chiave
- 28 Giugno 2025 — Inizio applicazione
- 28 Giugno 2030 — Fine periodo di grazia per alcuni servizi esistenti
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.