Web accessibility is now mandatory for many businesses
Since 28 June 2025 the European Accessibility Act has applied across the European Union. Many businesses still do not know it, but if you sell online or provide certain digital services, your website and apps must also be usable by people with disabilities.
What the European Accessibility Act is
It is Directive (EU) 2019/882, known as the European Accessibility Act. In Spain it was transposed by Law 11/2023 of 8 May. Its goal is to make everyday products and services, such as shopping online, using online banking or buying a travel ticket, accessible to everyone.
Who does it affect?
Among others, these services when offered to consumers:
- E-commerce: online stores and shopping apps.
- Consumer banking services.
- Passenger transport: websites, apps and ticket sales.
- E-books and their reading software.
- Electronic communications services.
Microenterprises providing services (fewer than 10 employees and no more than 2 million euros in turnover or balance sheet total) are exempt from these obligations. Even so, meeting them is a competitive advantage. Public bodies were already required to comply under earlier rules.
What makes a website accessible?
The technical reference is the international WCAG guidelines, included in the European standard EN 301 549. In practice, it means things like:
- Sufficient contrast between text and background.
- Alternative text describing images for screen reader users.
- Being able to navigate with the keyboard only, without a mouse.
- Well-ordered headings and link text that makes sense out of context.
- Forms with clear labels and understandable error messages.
- Captions on videos.
The good news: accessibility and SEO go hand in hand
Many of these improvements are exactly what Google values: clear structure, alternative text, good performance and a comfortable mobile experience. An accessible website reaches more people, converts better and usually ranks better.
An accessible website is not a website for a few: it is a better website for everyone.
How to check whether your website complies
Tools such as Lighthouse, built into Chrome, give you a first idea, but they do not replace a professional review: some issues only show up when you test the site with a keyboard and a screen reader. Our websites are designed to be accessible from the start; the one you are reading, for example, scores 100 for accessibility in Lighthouse.
If you want to know where yours stands, ask us for a review or take a look at our web design service.
This article is for information only and is not legal advice. To know your company’s exact obligations, check the applicable regulations or consult a legal professional.