Get your website ready for EAA

European Accessibility Act – Ready for 2025?

What is the Spanish Law and what does it cover?

In Spain, Law 11/2023 adapts the European Directive 2019/882 (European Accessibility Act) to the national legal framework. This law establishes the obligation to ensure that digital products and services are accessible to all people, including those with disabilities. The accessibility requirements are aligned with WCAG 2.1 (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), which ensure that digital content is perceivable, operable, understandable, and robust.

Complementing this law, Royal Decree 193/2023 establishes that private companies must comply with the UNE-EN 301549 standard, which regulates accessibility requirements for websites and mobile applications that offer products and services to the public. This ensures that digital platforms are accessible to people with different physical, sensory, or cognitive disabilities and compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers.

What happens if you don’t comply with the law?

Companies that fail to comply with Law 11/2023 and Royal Decree 193/2023 may face financial penalties of up to €1 million. Additionally, companies may lose grants such as the Digital Kit and face complaints from users or organizations reporting accessibility violations. There is also a significant risk of reputational damage, which can affect user trust in the company. Therefore, it is essential for companies to proactively implement digital accessibility to avoid these risks.

When does the law come into effect?

Law 11/2023 and Royal Decree 193/2023 will take effect on June 28, 2025 for new digital products and services. For existing products and services, companies must comply by this date, with no exceptions for specific sectors.

Who is affected by this law?

This law affects all companies and entities (public or private) that offer digital products or services to the public in Spain. The affected platforms and services include:

• Websites and mobile applications

• E-commerce platforms

• Financial services

• Passenger transportation

• Self-service terminals

• Smart TVs and multimedia players

• E-book readers

Companies must ensure their digital products and services are accessible, complying with WCAG 2.1 and the UNE-EN 301549 standard.

Are there specific laws by autonomous communities?

Yes, there are regional regulations that reinforce national accessibility laws. A key example is Catalonia’s Accessibility Code, regulated by Decree 209/2023, which comes into effect in March 2024. This code introduces additional rules to ensure digital accessibility, especially in public and private services.

In Catalonia, companies and platforms must comply with UNE-EN 301549 and WCAG 2.1, and must also meet additional requirements such as:

• Audio description for visual content

• Enhanced subtitles for multimedia content

• Voice command navigation

Catalonia also sets a compliance deadline until 2026 for sectors like banking and financial services and requires all digital platforms to clearly inform users about their accessibility features.

Are sanctions applied to companies or authorities with inaccessible websites?

Yes, sanctions are applied. While only a few cases have been reported so far, more and more users are becoming aware of their rights and reporting platforms that fail to meet accessibility standards. These complaints may be directed to entities such as the Ministry of Health or the Catalan Accessibility Council, which handle complaints related to web inaccessibility.

What other benefits does an accessible website offer?

Making your website accessible is not only a matter of compliance, but also a strategy to enhance various aspects of your digital presence. Here’s how an accessible website can bring additional advantages:

• Wider reach and visibility: An accessible website enables more people—regardless of ability or device—to interact with your content, expanding your audience and opening new opportunities.

• Better SEO performance: By following accessibility guidelines, your website becomes more structured and readable for search engines, improving its ranking in search results.

• Improved user experience (UX): Accessible design leads to easier navigation. Users can interact more comfortably with your site, boosting satisfaction and increasing conversion rates.

• Stay ahead of future regulations: Digital accessibility is becoming a legal standard. Complying now not only avoids penalties but prepares you for stricter future regulations, minimizing sudden adaptation costs.

• Simplified development and maintenance: Accessibility best practices lead to better-structured websites that are easier to update and maintain over time.

• Long-term cost savings: Planning for accessibility early prevents expensive last-minute adjustments later on.

• Stronger brand image: Companies that prioritize accessibility demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and social responsibility. This strengthens brand reputation and builds customer loyalty.

How does Eye-Able® help me?

Eye-Able® helps your company comply with the EAA by providing practical, easy-to-integrate digital accessibility solutions. Our software tools enhance website usability for all users through features like contrast adjustment, screen reader support, and text resizing — all in line with accessibility standards such as WCAG 2.2 and EN 301 549.

We also offer detailed accessibility audits, generate legally required accessibility statements, and provide tailored recommendations to help you meet EAA requirements quickly and effectively. This way you turn the law from a challenge into an opportunity.

Beyond tools, Eye-Able® supports your long-term accessibility strategy with training for your teams, ongoing monitoring, and additional services like Plain Language translation and AI-based multilingual accessibility. With our all-in-one solution and expert support, you not only avoid legal risks — you build trust, reach more users, and position your company as a leader in digital inclusion.

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