Why EEA compliance offers companies a competitive edge

The European Accessibility Act (EAA), introduced in 2019 to standardise accessibility requirements across the European Single Market, addresses a gap that has been covered in the US since the 1990s by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The EAA, which officially came into force on 28 June 2025, provides significant benefits beyond its impact on businesses operating in Europe, where non-compliance could lead to sanctions. Such benefits include enhanced accessibility for persons with disabilities and older adults, as well as expanded business opportunities for companies that offer accessible products and services.

What are the EAA and the ADA?

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the European Accessibility Act (EAA) share the common goal of improving accessibility for individuals with disabilities.

Enacted in 1990, the ADA is a comprehensive US civil rights law that prohibits disability discrimination in employment, public accommodations, transportation, and education. The EAA, adopted in 2019, specifically focuses on accessibility requirements for products and services within the EU single market, with an emphasis on digital accessibility for websites, mobile apps, and e-commerce.

Both acts are in alignment with the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), a global standard for digital accessibility to ensure that websites and digital platforms are perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust for all users. Businesses operating in the US must adhere to ADA guidelines to avoid legal penalties and maintain inclusivity, while companies in the EU must meet EAA standards by June 2025.

What does the new EAA legislation say?

Starting on 28 June 2025, Directive (EU) 2019/882 (the European Accessibility Act) will mandate accessibility standards for digital products and services, while giving priority to those that are crucial for individuals with disabilities and that are prone to inconsistent requirements across EU member states. Key areas include computers, ATMs, ticketing and check-in machines, smartphones, digital TV services and equipment, audiovisual media, passenger transport services, banking, e-books, and e-commerce.

The EAA is the result of extensive consultations with stakeholders and accessibility experts, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Businesses operating in crucial sectors must comply if they have more than 10 employees, if they have annual revenue exceeding €2M, and if they provide B2C products or services.

One significant requirement is that digital content must meet the B2 linguistic level of the European Framework to ensure that such content is accessible and easy to understand. This highlights the critical role of professional translation and localisation specialists in adapting texts for multilingual markets, while maintaining clarity and accessibility.

Additionally, the directive mandates features such as subtitles for hearing impaired users, audio descriptions for visually impaired individuals, and user-friendly interfaces.

By ensuring compliance and prioritising accessibility, companies not only comply with legal requirements, they also unlock opportunities in increasingly inclusive and diverse markets.

Why accessibility is important

Language is a vital component of general accessibility, which seamlessly connects with web accessibility principles.

Subtitles, alternative text, and easy-to-read content ensure that digital spaces are usable by everyone, including individuals with disabilities and those who face language barriers.

For businesses operating across the EU, multilingual compliance is essential, given that localised content ensures alignment with diverse linguistic and cultural needs. Successful examples include companies that adopt inclusive practices, such as clear translations and accessible interfaces, thereby fostering user trust and market growth. Conversely, failures often arise when content is overly technical, lacks subtitles, or is poorly localised, consequently alienating users and risking non-compliance with accessibility laws such as the EAA.

How accessibility and translation are connected

Partnering with a trusted translation provider is key to ensuring compliance with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025. Expert localisation services help adapt documents, websites, and digital interfaces to meet accessibility standards and cater to diverse audiences across the EU. Easy-to-Read (E2R) and plain language translations ensure clarity and inclusiveness, particularly for audiences requiring simplified content. For multimedia content, audiovisual solutions such as professional subtitling, dubbing, and speech-to-text technologies enhance accessibility, bridge communication gaps, and avoid pitfalls that are often associated with unsupervised automation, such as inaccurate subtitles or inadequate descriptions. Such technologies can be a further aid in transcribing educational, corporate, or promotional media material so that it can be converted into accessible text formats for all users.

Translation partners also play a critical role in preparing regulatory documents, such as impact assessments, stakeholder consultation summaries, and market analyses, and they ensure that these documents are precise and tailored to the linguistic and legal standards of EU countries. By prioritising accurate, accessible, and localised content, businesses can achieve compliance while fostering inclusivity and expanding their reach in diverse markets.

How compliance with the EAA creates a competitive advantage

Adhering to the European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025 unlocks numerous advantages for businesses. The harmonised European accessibility standards streamline cross-border operations and create a more cohesive marketplace.

By making products and services accessible, companies can tap into underserved markets, which include individuals with disabilities and multilingual populations, thereby significantly broadening a company’s reach. Compliance also strengthens brand image and builds customer confidence, and it shows dedication to inclusivity and equality and secures a strong position in an increasingly inclusive global economy, in addition to the fact that meeting such requirements helps businesses avoid penalties and overcome legal challenges.

Accessibility and translation are not just legal requirements but vital components of building an inclusive and globally competitive business. To ensure that your company meets EAA standards, consult CPSL for expert guidance and tailored solutions that help you achieve compliance while unlocking new opportunities.