valantic austria Presentation DSTNCMP 2025

Digital Accessibility according to EAA: What Companies Need to Know Now

On June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force – an EU-wide directive designed to ensure accessible access to digital products and services. This means that companies operating digital offerings such as websites, e-commerce platforms, mobile applications, etc., must make them accessible in the future.

In Austria, the EAA is implemented as part of the Accessibility Act (BaFG), and in Germany, through the Accessibility Strengthening Act (BFSG).

Even though Switzerland is not a member of the EU, the digital offerings of Swiss companies must comply with EAA requirements as soon as products or services are offered in the EU.

Who is affected by the EAA?

The European Accessibility Act applies to companies offering digital products or services in the EU – particularly in the fields of information and communication technology and e-commerce. The prerequisites are: more than ten employees and an annual balance sheet total exceeding two million euros.

What exactly does accessibility mean?

Accessibility is not an add-on but a central component of good UX. The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) define clear standards for this – particularly at the AA level – which aim to make websites accessible to everyone.

These include:

Clear, understandable content with a structured presentation
Easy navigation and intuitive operation
Sufficient contrast between text & background
Alternative texts for images & videos

These points, however, only provide an initial insight. For true accessibility, the holistic implementation of WCAG guidelines is crucial. Everything that goes live after the deadline of June 28, 2025, must comply with legal standards.

Digital inclusion needs strong partners

Now, more than ever, it's time to consider accessibility from the outset. Whether it's a website or an e-commerce platform: Digital experts like valantic support projects from barrier-free conception, UX, and frontend development to technical implementation. This is where the expertise of certified specialists in web accessibility comes into play. Valantic Austria also helps in taking the next step towards digital inclusion.