Brussels, BELGIUM – This Saturday, 28 June, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will enter into force, establishing minimum accessibility requirements for key consumer products and services across the EU.
The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe) welcomes the EAA’s entry into force, underscoring the digital sector’s commitment to advancing accessibility through technological innovation.
CCIA Europe, however, urges the European Commission to provide clear guidance to support consistent enforcement, particularly as missing critical technical standards are still being finalised by the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI).
In the interim, national authorities should prioritise addressing serious compliance risks – not minor shortcomings. This pragmatic approach will help ensure that Europeans with disabilities experience real improvements in both digital and physical environments.
The EAA is a milestone for inclusive design. It aims to harmonise requirements for businesses while ensuring that essential goods and services – from smartphones to online banking – are accessible to all.
For the digital sector, this means integrating minimum accessibility standards into a wide range of offerings, including social media, e-commerce sites, messaging services, and more.
The following can be attributed to Senior Vice President and Head of CCIA Europe, Daniel Friedlaender:
“CCIA Europe reiterates the digital sector’s commitment to advancing accessibility as the European Accessibility Act takes effect.”
“However, with key technical standards still in development, we urge the European Commission to issue clear guidance. In the meantime, Member States should take a proportionate enforcement approach – prioritising serious compliance risks over minor technical gaps.”
