The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is now in effect — but what does it mean for your business, and how does it relate to EN 301 549? If you're building or maintaining digital services for the European market, understanding the relationship between these two terms is critical to avoiding legal risk and ensuring your products remain accessible — and available.
In this short guide, we’ll break down what the EAA and EN 301 549 are, how they work together, and what steps you can take to get ready.
What Is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a legally binding directive introduced by the European Union to make key digital services and products accessible to people with disabilities across the EU. Enforced as of June 28, 2025, the EAA applies to a wide range of services, including:
The EAA’s goal is to standardize accessibility across Europe, reduce fragmentation, and ensure equal access to digital services. Non-compliance could lead to fines, service restrictions, or legal action — even for companies outside the EU that serve EU customers.
What Is EN 301 549?
EN 301 549 is the European accessibility standard that defines how to make digital products and services accessible. It outlines technical criteria and test methods for everything from websites to mobile apps, documents, software, and even hardware like ATMs and self-service kiosks.
Originally developed by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), EN 301 549 includes and extends the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) — with current versions referencing WCAG 2.1 and upcoming updates aligned with WCAG 2.2.
While the EAA is the law, EN 301 549 is the toolkit for proving that your digital assets conform to that law.
How Do the EAA and EN 301 549 Work Together?
The relationship is simple:
EAA defines what must be accessible and who must comply.
EN 301 549 provides the technical framework for how to comply.
If your website or app meets the requirements of EN 301 549, it is presumed to meet the technical expectations of the EAA. That makes it the go-to standard for audits, procurement, and compliance documentation.
Why This Matters for You
If you offer digital products or services in the EU — or plan to — you now have a legal responsibility to ensure accessibility. That means:
Fortunately, tools like GetWCAG can help you get started. With automated scans based on WCAG 2.2 and EN 301 549, you can quickly identify accessibility issues, prioritize fixes, and generate reports that help support your EAA compliance process.
Know the Law, Follow the Standard
| EAA | EN 301 549 | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | EU law | Technical standard |
| Role | Legal requirement | How to meet the law |
| Based on | Accessibility directives | WCAG 2.1/2.2, ISO |
| Applies to | Companies, platforms, services | Developers, ICT procurement |
| Status | Enforced as of June 2025 | Referenced for compliance |
Accessibility isn’t just a legal box to tick — it’s a competitive advantage. The European Accessibility Act will shape the digital landscape for years to come, and EN 301 549 is your roadmap for navigating it confidently.
Need to get ready?
Start scanning your site with GetWCAG to uncover issues and move toward conformance with the EAA and EN 301 549 — quickly, accurately, and at scale.