FAQs
What are the exemptions for the European Accessibility Act?
In addition to microenterprises with fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover below €2 million, the EAA provides minor other exemptions, including:
Non-consumer services – B2B services are considered to be outside the scope.
Archived or pre-2025 content – Websites, apps, media files, and documents published before 28 June may also be exempt, provided they have not been updated after that date.
Third-party content – Content that has not been created, funded, or controlled by the provider e.g. user-generated content or embedded third-party widgets, may also be exempt.
Disproportionate burden – If compliance would impose excessive costs, technical challenges, or fundamentally change the nature of the service or product, organisations may be exempt. However, they must be able to prove their case with documentation.
Does the European Accessibility Act apply to all websites?
No, not every website falls under the European Accessibility Act. The legislation specifically applies to consumer-facing websites and digital services that provide products and services within the EU.
For example, the EAA would apply to websites customers interact with, like e-commerce platforms, transport booking sites, streaming platforms, and mobile apps.
However, it would not apply to purely internal or B2B-only websites, as these are not directed at the general public.
What is the fine for European Accessibility Act 2025?
There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to fines for non-compliance. Each EU member state determines their own penalties, which can range from modest to significant.
Here are some country-specific examples:
Germany – Businesses can face fines up to 10,000 for neglecting to prove accurate information about the digital accessibility of their products and services, while fines of 100,000 can be issued for selling products and sources that are non-compliant with EAA regulations.
France – Private businesses may face a fine of €50,000 for failing to meet web accessibility standards and additional fines of €25,000 for related offences such as the failure to publish an accessibility statement.
Spain – May impose fines ranging from €30,000 to €600,000 for non-compliant businesses. They may also be required to undertake corrective measures and could have their non-compliant status disclosed to the public.