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Instead, it refers to existing EU standards such as EN 301 549, which has the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at its core, as guidance for how to achieve accessibility compliance. This is by design, to avoid limiting creative and innovative solutions to accessibility problems."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","h2",null,{"className":"text-2xl sm:text-4xl pb-6 md:pb-10 pt-6 md:pt-4","children":"Who does it apply to?"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"Any economic operator providing products or services to the EU. There are some exemptions for microenterprises (companies with less than 10 staff and an annual turnover of less than €2 million), however, all businesses should strive to meet and exceed accessibility compliance as far as possible. Member states are being encouraged to provide tools and guidance to microenterprises to help them achieve this."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"While the EAA is an EU law, and the UK is no longer an EU member, the law still applies to relevant businesses and public bodies in the UK that do business with the EU."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"For example: A successful resort spa and hotel in Northern Ireland advertises in the Republic of Ireland (ROI) and frequently takes bookings on their website from ROI residents. The hotel itself is based in the UK, but it has a turnover in excess of €2 million, employs a large staff and has a significant EU customer base who use its digital services. The hotel would need to comply with the EAA and make sure that its website was accessible in accordance with the law."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","h2",null,{"className":"text-2xl sm:text-4xl pb-6 md:pb-10 pt-6 md:pt-4","children":"What products or services does it affect?"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"Digital goods and services are the main focus of the EAA, and it applies to any within scope that are placed on the market after 28 June 2025. 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Different authorities are responsible for services in their relevant industries."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"Members of the public will also be able to report violations for investigation. These organisations will be responsible for reporting on the application and success of the EAA in 2030 and every 5 years thereafter."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","h2",null,{"className":"text-2xl sm:text-4xl pb-6 md:pb-10 pt-6 md:pt-4","children":"What are the consequences of violating it?"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"It is up to each member state to decide but generally speaking, you could be fined, have the affected products or services removed from the market until they are made accessible, and you may have to cease operations until this is done. In some countries, such as Ireland, there is also the possibility of imprisonment."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"If an organisation is unable to make their goods or services compliant, they will be required to provide proof that doing so would place a disproportionate burden on the organisation and/or fundamentally change the nature of the goods or service offered."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"While it’s likely organisations will be notified of violations and given time to remediate them, we may not know exactly what approach monitoring bodies will take until the EAA is in force, and there’s no guarantee this will be the same across all EU states."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"Additionally, organisations may lose out on business opportunities, suffer reputational damage and a loss of trust in their brand from consumers."}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","h2",null,{"className":"text-2xl sm:text-4xl pb-6 md:pb-10 pt-6 md:pt-4","children":"So why is it a positive thing?"}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"The EAA harmonises accessibility legislation throughout the EU, which should reduce confusion around what organisations need to do to be compliant. 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There’s great potential for businesses to gain new customers and become market leaders by becoming more accessible."]}],["$","br",null,{}],["$","p",null,{"className":"md:text-left text-md sm:text-2xl","children":"Most importantly, it will allow disabled people to access products and services that may previously have excluded them and ultimately, we should all be aiming for a fairer, more equitable society."}],["$","hr",null,{"className":"my-10"}],["$","div",null,{"id":"links","children":["$","ol",null,{"className":"list-decimal list-inside","children":[["$","li",null,{"className":"pb-2 md:pb-0","children":["$","a",null,{"href":"https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32019L0882","className":"underline","children":"European Union legal page for the European Accessibility Act"}]}],["$","li",null,{"className":"pb-2 md:pb-0","children":["$","a",null,{"href":"https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1138&langId=en","className":"underline","children":"European Commission page on United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities law"}]}],["$","li",null,{"className":"pb-2 md:pb-0","children":["$","a",null,{"href":"https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/policies/justice-and-fundamental-rights/disability/union-equality-strategy-rights-persons-disabilities-2021-2030/european-accessibility-act_en","className":"underline","children":"European Commission page on European Accessibility Act"}]}],["$","li",null,{"className":"pb-2 md:pb-0","children":["$","a",null,{"href":"https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/infographics/disability-eu-facts-figures/","className":"underline","children":"European Council page on Disability statistics referring Eurostat"}]}]]}]}]]}]]}],["$","section",null,{"className":"px-8 md:px-32 w-full py-12 md:py-24 bg-yellow-400","children":[["$","blockquote",null,{"className":"text-slate-900 text-xl sm:text-4xl italic","children":"Do you need help preparing for the EAA? 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