The European Accessibility Act and what it means for the global publishing industry

The European Accessibility Act is closely related to the Web Accessibility Directive, which intends to define digital accessibility requirements for European Union public institutions. Both regulations are based on WCAG standards, but the EAA is more widely applicable to private businesses that offer products or services.

The EU adopted the EAA in June 2019. EU member states were obliged to translate and incorporate the regulation into their national laws by June 2022. The law must be enforced by July 2025.

The Act establishes a set of uniform accessibility guidelines that all EU member states must adhere to, making it simpler for private businesses to offer compatible goods and services throughout the EU and expanding choice for consumers.

This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the significant impact that the EAA will have on all players in the digital publishing industry. We take a look at:

• The European Accessibility Act, its
• Benefits of EAA, and whom does it apply to
• Impact of EAA on the Publishing Industry