4 September 2025
European Accessibility Act: What is it and what happens in Italy
Discover what the European Accessibility Act is, how it applies in Italy from 2025, and what companies and developers must do to comply.
The European Accessibility Act, often abbreviated as EAA, is an EU directive (2019/882) that came into force on June 28, 2025. But what changes for those who own a digital product, and how will it be applied in Italy?
If you’re concerned that your website or app may not comply with accessibility guidelines, or if you simply want to know what the European Accessibility Act is, how it applies, and why compliance matters, here you’ll find all the answers.
What is the European Accessibility Act
As mentioned, it is a European directive created within the framework of the 2030 Agenda, which set 17 goals for sustainable development. Among these, the EAA focuses on digital accessibility for people with disabilities, ensuring equal access to services and information.
In Italy, the EAA has been integrated into the previous “Stanca law” of 2004 through Legislative Decree 82/2022. The shared objective is to achieve barrier-free IT services that do not discriminate against those who, due to physical or intellectual disabilities, but also older people or users with temporary limitations, may need screen readers, alternative keyboards, high-contrast colors, or reduced motion on screens.
When did the EAA come into force?
If the legislative decree was already approved in 2022, why is it only being talked about now? The reason is that, although the law already existed—and the EAA itself dates back to 2019—its application in Italy requires that all services placed on the market or updated after June 28, 2025 must comply.
For products already in use, there is a derogation until 2030 to align with the guidelines established by AgID (Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale).
If you’re worried your product may not comply and want to prepare in advance, Mabiloft offers a free consultation on the European Accessibility Act. Together we can assess what to improve in your digital product to make it fully accessible, with no obligation.
What does the EAA require and who does it apply to
The sectors involved in the EAA are broader than one might think: not only websites and apps, but any kind of product, including:
- electronic tickets and ticketing machines
- eReaders
- PDFs and other digital documents
- banking self-service machines
- transport information boards
In practice, countless sectors are covered by this law, including banking, transportation, and telecommunications. Moreover, it doesn’t only apply to European companies, but also to non-EU businesses providing services to European consumers.
Exceptions to the European Accessibility Act
Are there exceptions to who must comply with the European Accessibility Act? Yes. Exemptions apply to micro-enterprises, i.e., companies with fewer than 10 employees and annual turnover below €2 million.
Exemptions also apply to those who can prove that compliance would pose a disproportionate burden, meaning the benefits for people with disabilities would not be proportional to the costs of implementing the directive.
Finally, if adapting to the new rules requires substantial modification of the product, exemption is possible.
However, even those claiming exemption must obtain an accessibility assessment of their products and renew it in case of future updates.
Who monitors EAA compliance?
In Italy, enforcement of the European Accessibility Act is handled by AgID (Agenzia per l’Italia Digitale). This body carries out technical checks and takes necessary action if requirements are not met.
AgID also provides a platform where users can file complaints about accessibility issues. The agency then requires the service provider to adapt their digital product accordingly.
Why comply with the EAA
There are many good reasons to comply with the EAA. First of all, it’s a matter of civic responsibility: creating products accessible to those with specific needs is an act of social responsibility and inclusion that benefits everyone.
If that’s not enough, note that non-compliance can lead to penalties. Sanctions vary from country to country, but in all EU Member States companies risk legal action, fines, or even product withdrawal.
If you suspect you may not be compliant and want to avoid unpleasant surprises, let’s talk. Mabiloft offers free accessibility audits for your apps and websites.
But that’s not all. Accessible websites can reach a wider audience, especially if competitors aren’t equally compliant. Customers will appreciate it, which increases loyalty and improves brand reputation.
In addition, compliance with the EAA is often a requirement in EU public tenders. For large companies and state institutions, accessibility guarantees are a major advantage.
Finally, keep in mind that improved accessibility benefits everyone, not just users with disabilities. For example, enabling full keyboard navigation makes your site easier for everyone, and adding alternative text to images helps both screen readers and SEO.
How to implement the European Accessibility Act: what are the WCAG
If you’re now convinced of the need to make your digital product more accessible, you may be wondering: okay, but how can I actually implement the European Accessibility Act?
This is where WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) come in. As the name suggests, these are guidelines for making online content accessible. They are the global standard for ensuring websites are usable by everyone. The basic principles can be summarized with the acronym POUR:
What it means | How it applies | |
|---|---|---|
Perceivable | Everything must be perceivable, even for users with sensory difficulties (e.g., visually impaired, deaf). |
|
Operable | Navigation must be possible using non-traditional methods, such as for users with motor impairments. |
|
Understandable | Information must be clear and comprehensible, even for users with cognitive disabilities. |
|
Robust | Products must be usable across different devices and technologies, including screen readers. |
|
To pass accessibility checks, products must reach at least AA level according to WCAG 2.1, although AgID recommends aiming for the most recent version, WCAG 2.2, to anticipate future developments. The levels are: A (basic), AA (intermediate), AAA (advanced). A checklist evaluates around 70 points (WCAG 2.1), all of which must be approved to obtain a declaration of conformity.
How to be ready for checks: trust us
Don’t wait until accessibility becomes a problem—prepare in advance for possible inspections by regulatory bodies. This way, accessibility becomes a strength: an inclusive product that earns users’ trust and admiration.
We can help you turn this challenge into success. Adapting a mobile or web product to the EAA requires time and resources, but the first step is assessing your current situation with an audit.
We can support you with a free initial evaluation, with no obligation to continue. We do this to give back to society and, why not, to meet interesting companies along the way. If you think this could help, let’s set up a meeting.
