Your Guide to EU-Compliant Public Sector Websites & Mobile Apps

The European Union is making digital accessibility a top priority. Two key laws, the EU Web Accessibility Directive and the European Accessibility Act, lead this effort. These laws are important for public and private groups to follow. They make sure digital stuff meets the latest standards¹².

Contents

The EU Web Accessibility Directive from 2016 requires public websites and apps in EU countries to be accessible². The European Accessibility Act from 2019 sets the same rules for essential products and services in the private sector¹².

These laws are changing the digital world. It’s vital for public and private groups to keep up and follow these rules. This guide will explain the main points, timelines, and what these laws mean. It will help you make your digital stuff more inclusive and accessible¹²³.

Key Takeaways

The EU Web Accessibility Directive and the European Accessibility Act are two key laws pushing for digital accessibility in Europe.
The EU Web Accessibility Directive targets public websites and apps, while the European Accessibility Act covers the private sector too.
To follow these laws, you must use WCAG 2.1 standards and keep checking and reporting on accessibility.
If you don’t follow these laws, you could face big fines or even have your product or service taken away.
It’s important to know about these laws and their deadlines if you work in the EU market, whether you’re public or private.

Understanding the EU Web Accessibility Directive

The EU Web Accessibility Directive is a key law. It aims to make websites and mobile apps better for people with disabilities in the European Union⁴. It sets rules for public sector groups to make their online stuff more accessible⁴.

This means over 70 million people with disabilities in the EU can now use online content and services better⁴.

What is the EU Web Accessibility Directive?

This law covers all EU countries and some other areas⁵. Its main goal is to make web access the same everywhere in the public sector⁴. It tells government groups and others to make their websites and apps easier to use for everyone⁴.

Key Requirements of the Directive

The law says public websites and apps must be easy for people with disabilities to use⁴. It uses the European standard EN 301 549 and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 for this⁴.

It also requires:

An Accessibility Statement that shows how accessible a site is and its limits⁴
A way for users to report any accessibility problems⁴
Regular checks and reports to the European Commission every three years⁴

If groups don’t follow this law, they could face fines set by each EU country⁴.

“The EU Web Accessibility Directive is a key law. It aims to make the internet more open for people with disabilities, letting them fully join in the online world.”

Who Must Comply with the EU Web Accessibility Directive?

The EU Web Accessibility Directive targets public sector bodies. This includes government websites and bodies funded by public contracts⁶. But, some groups like public service broadcasters and most schools are not covered. This is unless they offer services important to the public or help people with disabilities⁶. Each EU country can also add more sectors to the directive.

About 24% of Europeans, or 87 million people, have a disability⁷. This includes around 80% with neurological, cognitive, and linguistic disabilities⁷. Public sector groups in EU countries and their suppliers must follow the EU Web Accessibility Directive from 2016⁷.

Websites had to meet the directive by September 23, 2020. Mobile apps had until June 23, 2021⁷. Not following the directive can lead to fines and legal issues⁷.

Timeline for Compliance with the EU Web Accessibility Directive

The EU Web Accessibility Directive is nearing its final stage of compliance. As of September 23, 2020, all EU public sector websites must meet the standards. And starting June 23, 2021, mobile apps will also need to comply⁸.

Compliance Deadlines

The European Accessibility Act is still in its early stages, adopted by the EU in 2019⁹. Countries have until June 28, 2022, to start making accessibility changes⁸. Then, they have until June 28, 2025, to fully implement these changes⁸.

The European Accessibility Act (Directive 2019/882) requires all websites and digital tech to be accessible to people with disabilities⁹. By June 28, 2025, companies must follow EU accessibility rules⁹. This rule doesn’t apply to small businesses with fewer than 10 employees and less than €2 million in annual sales⁹.

Regulation	Compliance Deadline	Scope
EU Web Accessibility Directive	September 23, 2020 (websites) June 23, 2021 (mobile apps)	Public sector websites and mobile apps
European Accessibility Act	June 28, 2022 (transposition) June 28, 2025 (implementation)	All businesses selling in the EU or to EU citizens, excluding microenterprises

The European Commission has warned countries that are behind in making these laws, like Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Poland⁹. The EU Web Directive focuses on public sector sites, essential services, and those for people with disabilities⁹. The European Accessibility Act covers all EU businesses or those selling to EU customers⁹.

“The importance of starting accessibility compliance early is emphasized, as the 28 June 2025 deadline may require significant work to meet the required standards.”

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The European Accessibility Act: Expanding Accessibility in the Private Sector

Overview of the European Accessibility Act

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is a key EU law. It aims to make things better for people with disabilities in the private sector¹⁰. This law started in 2019 and makes sure all EU businesses follow the same rules for accessibility¹⁰.

Products and Services Covered by the Act

The EAA sets rules for many products and services like computers, phones, TVs, banking, and online shopping¹⁰. These rules follow the Web Accessibility Directive, making digital access the same for everyone¹⁰.

Websites, apps, and media players must be easy for people with disabilities to use¹⁰. This means they can get information and do online tasks with help from technology¹⁰. This includes online banking and shopping¹⁰.

¹¹ With 135 million people in the EU living with disabilities, the EAA wants to remove barriers. It helps these individuals join the digital world fully¹¹.

Product/Service	Accessibility Requirements
Websites and Mobile Apps	Perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust
Online Banking	Accessible to users with disabilities
E-Commerce	Accessible to users with disabilities, with exceptions for small businesses

¹⁰ The EAA matches the European Web Accessibility Directive, making digital access the same for everyone¹⁰. It helps businesses, the elderly, and people with disabilities¹².

European Accessibility Act

“Seven out of ten Europeans believe enhancing the accessibility of products and services would significantly benefit people with disabilities, the elderly, and others requiring accessible features.”¹¹

¹¹ Small businesses with 10 or fewer employees or less than two million euros in revenue can ask for an exemption¹¹. But, not having time or knowledge is not a good reason to ignore accessibility rules¹⁰.

Impact on Private Organizations

The EU Web Accessibility Directive mainly targets public sector websites and apps. But, it also affects many private companies. Companies that work with or sell products to government must meet accessibility standards¹³. Private companies offering similar services to public sites risk losing users with disabilities if their sites aren’t accessible¹³.

The European Accessibility Act will also hit private companies that make or sell essential electronic goods. It sets clear web accessibility rules and makes cross-border trading easier¹³. In fact, about 1.3 billion people worldwide face significant disabilities, making up 16% of the global population¹⁴. In Europe, around 135 million people live with disabilities¹⁴.

This law’s impact goes beyond just following rules. With over a billion people worldwide living with disabilities and spending more than $6 trillion, companies that focus on web accessibility can gain a big market¹³. In fact, 82% of people with access needs say they’d spend more if sites were easier to use¹³.

Ignoring accessibility rules can be very costly¹³. Companies could face fines up to $100,000 a day for not following the rules¹³. Also, the number of digital accessibility lawsuits in the U.S. is set to jump from 2,314 in 2018 to 4,220 by 2023¹⁴.

By focusing on accessibility, private companies can meet EU rules, open new business chances, serve customers better, and dodge legal and reputation risks¹³¹⁴.

Compliance Requirements	Business Opportunities
Meet EU Web Accessibility Directive standards Adhere to the European Accessibility Act Avoid fines and legal issues Maintain a positive brand reputation	Expand customer base to include people with disabilities Increase revenue through improved accessibility Streamline cross-border trading within the EU Gain a competitive edge through accessible offerings

“Accessibility is not just about compliance; it’s about good business. Companies that prioritize web accessibility will be well-positioned to serve the needs of a growing market and avoid the risks of non-compliance.”

How the EU Web Accessibility Directive Differs from WCAG

The EU Web Accessibility Directive and the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.1 (WCAG 2.1) share many similarities. At its core, the Web Accessibility Directive is based on WCAG 2.0¹⁵. It doesn’t list specific rules for websites and apps. Instead, it points to the Accessible ICT Procurement Toolkit’s Standard EN 301 549. This standard uses WCAG 2.1 for more details¹⁶.

The Role of WCAG in the Directive

The main difference is that the Web Accessibility Directive makes WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards legally required in the European Union¹⁶. This means public sector organizations in the EU must check and improve their content to meet these standards. If they don’t, they could face legal trouble¹⁶.

The European Accessibility Act (EAA) goes further, making private sector companies follow accessibility rules too, including WCAG¹⁶. The Web Accessibility Directive focuses on the public sector. The EAA covers a broader range, like e-commerce, banking, and telecommunications¹⁶.

In summary, the EU Web Accessibility Directive and the European Accessibility Act ensure that Europe’s public and private sectors offer accessible digital content and services. WCAG 2.1 is the base for these requirements¹⁶.

Key Difference	EU Web Accessibility Directive	WCAG 2.1
Scope	Legally binding for public sector websites and mobile apps in the EU	Voluntary guidelines for web accessibility
Compliance Level	WCAG 2.1 Level AA is required	WCAG 2.1 provides three levels of conformance: A, AA, and AAA
Enforcement	Non-compliance can result in legal action and penalties	No legal enforcement, but widely adopted as an industry standard
Private Sector	Covered by the European Accessibility Act	Voluntary adoption, but may be required by law in some countries

“The Web Accessibility Directive is a game-changer, as it transforms WCAG guidelines into legally binding requirements for the public sector in Europe. This will drive significant improvements in digital accessibility, benefiting millions of Europeans with disabilities.”¹⁷

The EU Web Accessibility Directive and the European Accessibility Act create a strong framework for digital accessibility in Europe’s public and private sectors¹⁶. By using WCAG standards, these directives aim to greatly improve the lives of people with disabilities. They make up a big part of the European population¹⁵¹⁷.

Public sector web accessibility: Steps Towards Compliance

To meet EU Web Accessibility Directive rules, public sites and apps must follow WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA standards¹⁸. They need to have an accessible content statement and a link for feedback¹⁹.

Evaluating Current Accessibility

First, check how accessible your website is with tools like the Siteimprove Website Accessibility Checker¹⁸. Keeping up with accessibility is key, so tools and services like Siteimprove help a lot¹⁸.

Implementing WCAG Standards

WCAG standards are a must for public sites and apps¹⁸. With over 78 criteria for Level AA compliance²⁰, and more than 1000 technical checks, a thorough approach is needed²⁰.

Many public sites don’t meet accessibility standards yet²⁰. For instance, 60% of local authority sites are hard for people with disabilities to use²⁰. And, 90% of county council sites don’t follow accessibility rules²⁰.

Only 7% of public sites have a correct accessibility statement²⁰. Most lack the needed info, and 10% don’t have a statement at all²⁰.

By regularly checking accessibility, following WCAG standards, and being open about it, public groups can meet EU rules¹⁸¹⁹²⁰.

Benefits of Accessibility for Public Sector Websites and Apps

Accessibility is more than just a law. It’s key to making the internet welcoming for everyone, including people with disabilities²¹. Making public sector sites and apps easy to use helps many, from those with long-term disabilities to those with temporary ones²².

By using inclusive design, public groups can make their online services easy for all²². This meets EU Web Accessibility laws and helps reach more people, including those often missed²¹. In the EU, about 100 million people have some disability, showing a big, new market²¹.

Accessibility is a basic human right²². The United Nations says everyone with disabilities should have access to technology. This helps them be independent, fit in, and fully take part in society²³.

Studies show making things accessible makes them easier for everyone, not just people with disabilities²². By focusing on accessibility, public groups can make their online stuff better for all users.

In summary, making public sector sites and apps accessible does more than follow the law. It helps create services that everyone can use and enjoy, no matter their abilities²¹²²²³.

Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Digital Realm

UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UN CRPD) protects the basic rights of people with disabilities. The European Union and its Member States have signed this treaty²⁴. It includes articles about making sure people with disabilities can use information and communication technologies just like everyone else. It also calls for creating and checking accessibility standards and guidelines²⁴.

The EU has made laws to help people with disabilities, like the Web Accessibility Directive²⁴. This law tells public sector bodies how to make their websites and apps accessible. It helps people with disabilities join in the digital world and get to government services and info²⁴.

There’s been more focus on making the internet accessible in recent years, thanks to important legal cases and more awareness of online challenges for people with disabilities²⁵. The COVID-19 pandemic showed how vital it is for digital services to be open to everyone, no matter their abilities²⁵.

As the internet keeps changing, it’s key to keep protecting the rights of people with disabilities. Making sure digital products and services are accessible is important²⁶. This follows the UN CRPD and helps create a more inclusive and fair digital future for everyone²⁶.

Conclusion

The EU Web Accessibility Directive and the European Accessibility Act are big steps towards making digital spaces more accessible for people with disabilities in Europe. The Directive focuses on public websites and apps, while the Act covers the private sector too. Together, these directives are making the internet more welcoming for everyone. Both public and private groups must make accessibility a top priority to follow the law and serve their users better²⁷.

Starting to follow the EU Web Accessibility Directive has had some hurdles, like limited input from groups for people with disabilities and not all sites and apps meeting the standards²⁸. Yet, the push for a more accessible online world is strong. As groups meet these rules, they’ll not just follow the law. They’ll also make their work more open, responsible, and efficient. Plus, they’ll gain trust and more engagement from everyone²⁷.

As the EU keeps making its accessibility rules better, groups need to stay alert and act fast. By focusing on EU web accessibility, public sector compliance, and private sector impact, they can get ahead in a future where the internet is more open to everyone²⁹²⁸.

FAQ

What is the EU Web Accessibility Directive?

The EU Web Accessibility Directive is a law in the EU. It makes public sector websites and apps more accessible. It also makes sure standards are the same across the EU. Public sector bodies must make their websites and apps ‘perceivable, operable, understandable and robust’.

Who must comply with the EU Web Accessibility Directive?

Public sector bodies must follow the directive. This includes government websites and bodies funded by public contracts. Some are not included, like public broadcasters, most schools, and NGOs not offering services for the public or helping people with disabilities.

What is the timeline for compliance with the EU Web Accessibility Directive?

All EU public sector websites must follow the directive by September 23, 2020. Mobile apps must comply by June 23, 2021.

What is the European Accessibility Act?

The European Accessibility Act is a new EU law. It aims to remove barriers for people with disabilities in the market. It sets EU-wide standards for accessible products and services.

How does the EU Web Accessibility Directive differ from WCAG?

The EU Web Accessibility Directive and WCAG 2.1 share many similarities. The main difference is that the EU law makes WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards legally required. This means countries must follow these standards.

What steps can public sector organizations take to comply with the EU Web Accessibility Directive?

Public organizations need to make sure their sites and apps meet WCAG 2.1 Level A and AA standards. They must have an accessibility statement and a way for users to give feedback. First, they should check how accessible their website is now.

What are the benefits of accessibility for public sector websites and apps?

Making websites and apps accessible helps everyone, not just people with disabilities. It can attract more customers for businesses. This leads to economic benefits for accessible services.

How are the rights of persons with disabilities addressed in the digital realm?

The UNCRPD recognizes the rights of people with disabilities. The EU Web Accessibility Directive ensures public sector sites and apps are accessible. This helps meet the UNCRPD goals.