The European Accessibility Act Is Coming. Key accessibility requirements from June 2025
- Katerina Vaclavkova
- Jul 3
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 18
From June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will come into force. This new legislation will reshape how digital accessibility is handled across the EU – and yes, it applies to all e-commerce websites.
This isn’t just about legal compliance. It’s about making sure that digital products and services are usable for people with disabilities and the elderly – and at the same time, improving the shopping experience for all users.
What Does the EAA Mean for E-Shops?
From June 2025, e-shops must comply with the WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards. In practice, this includes:
Key Requirements:
Alt text for all images (like product photos)
Sufficient color contrast between text and background
Properly labeled form fields
Full keyboard accessibility (cart, checkout, forms)
Descriptive links and structured headings
Screen reader compatibility
Accessible PDF documents
Clear error messages and validation
A “nice-looking” website is no longer enough. If your e-shop doesn’t meet accessibility standards, you may face legal risks and penalties.
What Is WCAG 2.1 (W3C) and What Are Its Core Principles?
WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) is an international standard created by the W3C (World Wide Web Consortium). It outlines how websites should be designed to be accessible to as many people as possible – including those with visual, hearing, or motor impairments.
Version 2.1 expands on 2.0 by adding guidelines for mobile devices and users with cognitive challenges. The AA level, required by the EAA, is considered a realistic and achievable benchmark for both public and commercial websites.
WCAG POUR Principles (Made Simple)
Principle | What it means | E-Shop Example |
P – Perceivable | Users must be able to perceive the content. | Images have alt text; color contrast is strong |
O – Operable | The interface must be usable in different ways (e.g., keyboard only). | Everything works without a mouse |
U – Understandable | Content and UI must be clear and predictable. | Forms are clearly labeled; errors are easy to fix |
R – Robust | Content must work with assistive technologies. | Compatible with screen readers (e.g., NVDA, JAWS) |
Why Accessibility Also Makes Business Sense
Complying with digital accessibility doesn’t just help you avoid legal risks – it brings business benefits:
Gain trust from customers who rely on accessible design
Improve the overall UX for everyone (especially on mobile)
Accessible websites tend to be technically stronger and better for SEO
Avoid reputation damage and complaints
How to Start: Practical Steps
Accessibility might sound complex, but getting started can be simple:
1. Run a quick audit with Lighthouse
Open your website in Chrome → press F12 → go to the Accessibility tab → run the audit. You’ll spot key issues in minutes.
2. Check for common issues:
All images have descriptive alt text
All links are clearly labeled (e.g., “View product” instead of “Click here”)
The website works without a mouse
Errors are visible and understandable
3. Test the checkout process with a screen reader:
Try NVDA (Windows) or VoiceOver (Mac). Add a product to your cart, complete a form, and try to check out – using only the screen reader.
EAA Compliance Checklist for E-Shops
Requirement | |
1 | WCAG 2.1 AA audit |
2 | Alt text for images |
3 | Sufficient color contrast |
4 | Full keyboard navigation |
5 | Clear heading structure |
6 | Descriptive link texts |
7 | Properly labeled form fields |
8 | Screen reader compatibility |
9 | Accessible error messages |
10 | Accessible PDF files |
If your e-shop meets all 10 points, you’re on the right track for June 2025.
Raventic Solutions Are Already EAA-Compliant
At Raventic, accessibility isn’t an add-on – it’s built-in by design. Our AI-driven technologies for e-commerce (like product recommendations and semantic search) are already fully EAA-compliant, with no extra steps needed from our partners side.
