EAA Website Accessibility Requirements

The European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) requires that covered digital services be accessible to persons with disabilities. For websites, the requirements are defined through EN 301 549, which mandates conformance with WCAG 2.1 Level AA.

The EAA website requirements apply to specific service categories:

• E-commerce: Product listings, shopping carts, checkout flows, order tracking, and customer accounts must all be accessible
• Consumer banking: Account management, transfers, bill payments, loan applications, and financial information displays
• Transport services: Route planning, ticket purchasing, seat selection, real-time departure information, and travel disruption alerts
• Telecom services: Account management, plan selection, usage dashboards, and customer support interfaces
• E-books: Reader interfaces, navigation, bookmarking, annotation, and content rendering

These requirements are active now — enforcement began June 28, 2025 across all EU member states.

WCAG 2.1 AA includes 50 success criteria organized under four principles. Here are the most commonly failed criteria that CompliScan detects:

• 1.1.1 Non-text Content: Every image, icon, and visual element must have a text alternative that serves the same purpose
• 1.3.1 Info and Relationships: Page structure (headings, lists, tables, forms) must be programmatically determinable, not just visually implied
• 1.4.3 Contrast (Minimum): Text must have at least 4.5:1 contrast against its background (3:1 for large text at 18pt+ or 14pt+ bold)
• 2.1.1 Keyboard: All functionality must be operable through a keyboard interface without requiring specific timings
• 2.4.4 Link Purpose: The purpose of each link must be determinable from the link text alone or from its context
• 3.3.2 Labels or Instructions: Form inputs must have labels or instructions so users know what information is expected
• 4.1.2 Name, Role, Value: All UI components must expose their name, role, and state to assistive technologies

CompliScan scans for all 50 WCAG 2.1 AA criteria that can be tested automatically, with AI-generated fix suggestions for each violation found.

If you are familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), understanding the EAA differences helps you adapt your compliance approach:

• Explicit standard: The EAA explicitly references WCAG 2.1 AA through EN 301 549. The ADA does not specify a technical standard, though DOJ guidance and court rulings increasingly point to WCAG 2.1 AA
• Defined scope: The EAA lists specific sectors that must comply (e-commerce, banking, transport, telecom, e-books). The ADA applies broadly to places of public accommodation, which courts have interpreted to include websites
• Regulatory enforcement: The EAA is enforced by national market surveillance authorities through inspections and orders. The ADA is primarily enforced through private lawsuits and DOJ actions
• Microenterprise exemption: The EAA exempts microenterprises providing services. The ADA has no size-based exemption
• Product requirements: The EAA also covers physical products (self-service terminals, hardware). The ADA covers physical premises but web accessibility is handled separately

Businesses operating in both the US and EU markets should target WCAG 2.1 AA compliance to satisfy both frameworks simultaneously.

CompliScan helps you systematically address EAA website requirements through automated scanning and AI-assisted remediation:

• Step 1 — Baseline scan: Run a free CompliScan scan to establish your current compliance level. The scan identifies violations and maps them to specific WCAG 2.1 AA success criteria
• Step 2 — Prioritize fixes: Focus on critical and serious violations first. CompliScan ranks issues by severity and impact on user experience
• Step 3 — Apply AI fixes: Use CompliScan's AI-generated code suggestions to fix violations. Each suggestion includes the specific HTML, CSS, or ARIA changes needed
• Step 4 — Monitor continuously: Set up weekly or daily scans (Shield $49/mo or Shield Pro $149/mo) to catch new violations as your website content changes

For organizations managing multiple websites, the Agency plan ($299/mo) covers up to 50 sites — ideal for businesses with multiple EU-facing digital properties or agencies handling client compliance. PDF reports from Shield Pro and Agency plans serve as documentation for regulatory inquiries.