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Sign Language Regulation in The European Union ​

The European Accessibility Act (EAA, Directive (EU) 2019/882) is an EU directive mandating accessibility in products and services to ensure equal access for individuals with disabilities.[1][2] Primarily targeting private-sector services, the EAA imposes limited obligations on governmental services, affecting only commercially provided public services.[3] Unlike regulations directly applicable across the EU, each member state must transpose the EAA into national law.[4] Enforcement responsibilities are shared between the EU level (harmonization and oversight) and member states (national enforcement, penalties, compliance checks).[5]

Regulated Products ​

The EAA mandates accessibility for critical products, including:[6]

  • Computers & Operating Systems: Desktops, laptops, tablets, and their OS.
  • Self-Service Terminals: ATMs, ticketing machines, check-in kiosks.
  • Smartphones & Telephones: Accessibility-supporting devices.
  • Television Equipment: Digital TV services and set-top boxes.
  • E-Readers: Digital book reading devices.

Regulated Services ​

Essential services required to meet EAA accessibility standards include:[5:1][7]

  • Audiovisual Media Services (AVMS) – TV broadcasts, streaming platforms. (Annex I, Section II, Point 2)
  • Passenger Transport Services – Air, bus, rail, waterborne transport. (Annex I, Section II, Point 6)
  • Banking & Financial Services – Online/in-person banking. (Annex I, Section II, Point 3)
  • E-Books & Digital Publications – Digital reading platforms. (Annex I, Section II, Point 4)
  • E-Commerce & Online Platforms – Online shopping services. (Annex I, Section II, Point 5)

Accessibility Requirements ​

The EAA establishes general accessibility criteria for regulated products and services, including:[8]

  • Multimodal Access – Information must be available via text, audio, visual channels.
  • Readable & Structured Content – Clearly structured, legible text.
  • Accessible Websites & Applications – Digital platforms must meet accessibility standards (perceivable, operable, understandable, robust).
  • Accessible Support Services – Accessible communication options for help desks, call centers, relay services, and technical support.

The latter two points are particularly important for sign language access and digital inclusion.

Strong Foundation for Web & App Accessibility ​

The EAA requires digital content and applications to be accessible and compatible with assistive technologies. This creates opportunities for strengthening national regulations and industry standards, potentially expanding enforcement to WCAG Level AAA for essential services and including sign language support, captioning, and AI-driven accessibility tools.[9]

Support Service Accessibility: Enhancing User Interaction ​

Customer support services under the EAA must be accessible via assistive technologies. This encourages integrating sign language services, captioning, and text-based communication, significantly benefiting deaf and hard-of-hearing users.

Recognition of Sign Language Under the EAA ​

The EAA does not mandate sign language but identifies areas where sign language is encouraged or expected:

  • Audiovisual Media Services – Sign language interpretation for TV and streaming. (Annex I, Section II, Point 2 & Annex II, Section IV, Lit. B)
  • Interactive Computing Devices – Video-capable devices must support sign language where feasible. (Annex I, Section I, Point 2(iii) & Annex II, Section IV, Lit. III)

EAA and WCAG Compliance ​

While not explicitly mandating WCAG 2.1 AA, the EAA's accessibility requirements are aligned with EN 301 549, the harmonized EU standard referencing WCAG guidelines.[10][11] Higher standards (e.g., WCAG AAA) are strongly encouraged in specific contexts:

  • Banking & Customer Services – Accessible communication, with complexity levels not exceeding B2. (Annex I, Section IV, Lit. E)
  • Emergency Services (112 Calls) – Support "Total Conversation" (video, text, voice). (Annex I, Section V)
  • Public Transport Information – Accessible ticketing and travel information. (Annex I, Section IV, Lit. C & D)

Implementation Timeline[12][13] ​

  • 2015: European Commission proposed EAA.
  • 2019 (April 9): EAA formally adopted by EU Council.
  • 2022 (June 28): Member states transposed EAA into national legislation.
  • 2025 (June 28): Compliance required for new products/services.
  • 2030 (June 28): Full compliance for existing products/services.

Penalties for Non-Compliance ​

National enforcement bodies impose fines and legal actions for non-compliance.[14] Penalties vary by country, ranging from fines (e.g., Italy: 5% of annual turnover; Germany: €100,000) to operational restrictions.[15][16]

  1. European Union. 2019. Directive (EU) 2019/882 ↩︎

  2. European Commission. EU Accessibility Laws ↩︎

  3. Level Access. EAA vs ADA Comparison ↩︎

  4. European Union. Regulation vs Directive ↩︎

  5. Business Disability Forum. The European Accessibility Act – What Businesses Need to Know and Do ↩︎ ↩︎

  6. European Commission. Products and Services Covered by EAA ↩︎

  7. Level Access. European Accessibility Act 2025 – Compliance Overview ↩︎

  8. European Union. EAA Directive Art. 4 and Annex I ↩︎

  9. Accessible.org. EAA Service Accessibility Requirements ↩︎

  10. ETSI. EN 301 549 V3 Harmonized Standard ↩︎

  11. WCAG.com. EAA WCAG Compliance Overview ↩︎

  12. Wikipedia. European Accessibility Act ↩︎

  13. Siteimprove. EAA June 2025 Deadline ↩︎

  14. European Union. Article 30 – Penalties ↩︎

  15. Level Access. Penalties for EAA Non-Compliance ↩︎

  16. InclusiveWeb. EAA Penalties for Non-Compliance ↩︎