The European Accessibility Act – What It Means for Luxembourg Businesses

What is the European Accessibility Act?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) aims to harmonize accessibility standards for digital products and services across the EU. It will be implemented in Luxembourg law by June 28, 2025. The EAA applies to both private and public sectors, aiming to remove barriers for individuals with disabilities while promoting inclusivity and innovation across the EU.

Who Does the EAA Apply To?
The EAA affects a wide range of Luxembourg-based businesses, especially:

• Financial institutions (banks, insurers, investment firms, payment providers)
• Telecommunications providers
• E-commerce platforms
• Transport service operators
• Manufacturers or operators of self-service terminals (ATMs, ticketing machines, payment kiosks)

Companies offering these services to EU consumers—whether online or physical—must comply. While micro-enterprises are exempt from some requirements, most medium and large companies fall within scope.

Risks of Non-Compliance

• Fines of up to €500,000 (or €1,000,000 for repeated offenses)
• Damage to brand reputation and loss of customer trust
• Product bans or restrictions in the EU market
• Legal action through complaints and enforcement proceedings

Common Website Accessibility Issues
From our client assessments, typical gaps include:

• Poor colour contrast between text and background, impairing readability
• Missing alternative text for images, affecting screen reader users
• Buttons without accessible names, reducing usability for assistive tech
• Form elements (e.g., dropdowns) missing associated labels
• Touch targets that are too small or too close together for mobile users