Since June 28, 2025, a new European regulation on the’digital accessibility redefines expectations for online sites and services. The European Accessibility Act (EAA) obliges stakeholders - including many companies in Belgium - to make their websites and digital services usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.

This law is no longer confined to government agencies: if you run a platform, e-commerce or public-facing application in Belgium, you're probably affected. Consult our related page to quickly understand the concrete actions to be taken and check whether your site needs to be brought into compliance.

A European directive now in force

Adopted in 2019 (EU Directive 2019/882), the European Accessibility Act became effective on June 28, 2025. This European law aims to guarantee the accessibility of digital products and services for all: people with reduced mobility, visual or hearing impairments, or cognitive disorders.

The EAA complements Directive 2016/2102 (focused on the public sector) by extending digital accessibility requirements to the private sector. In concrete terms, it covers a wide range of digital products and services (websites, applications, sales platforms or online services) and relies on harmonized standards to facilitate application in all member states.

In Belgium, transposition specifies practical obligations and deadlines. If you are responsible for an online service intended for the public, check the applicable national requirements: they define which pages or applications must meet accessibility criteria, and how to document compliance.

Who is affected in Belgium?

The law applies to :

• Private companies offering digital services (websites, platforms, applications, etc.)
• E-commerce sites
• Online banking and financial services
• Mobile applications for the general public
• Ticketing and transport services
• Publishers of digital books and multimedia content

Micro-businesses (fewer than 10 employees and annual sales of less than €2 million) may qualify for an exemption, provided they can prove that compliance would be a disproportionate burden. However, this must be justified and documented. For example, a small Belgian e-commerce store whose compliance costs would jeopardize its business could apply for this exemption - but it would have to provide figures and a mitigation plan.

What technical requirements must be met?

The directive is based on the European standard EN 301 549, which incorporates the WCAG 2.1 level AA recommendations. In concrete terms, this is an operational checklist that your technical and content teams should be able to check off to improve the accessibility of your pages and applications:

• Clear, logical navigation: hierarchical headings, accessible menus and clear navigation paths.
• Compatibility with screen readers: semantic structure (h1-h6), relevant ARIA roles, form labels.
• Full keyboard navigation: all controls and links must be usable without a mouse (visible focus, logical order).
• Sufficient contrast and legible typography: compliance with contrast ratios and ability to enlarge text without loss of content.
• Semantic HTML structure: correct tags, consistent headings, accessible lists and tables.
• Text alternatives for images and media: alt text descriptions, captions and transcriptions for audio/video content.

A non-compliant site creates a real digital barrier for a significant proportion of people in Belgium. Beyond the technical aspect, accessibility is an issue of inclusion: it ensures that everyone can access information and services online.

Practical tip: test your pages with automated tools, but also with manual tests and assistive technologies (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver) to validate the real user experience and identify which criteria to prioritize.

What are the risks of non-compliance?

Penalties vary from one member state to another. In Belgium, serious breaches of accessibility can result in substantial fines - up to 200,000 euros in some cases - and, if persistent, daily penalties (e.g. 1,000 euros per day) until compliance is restored.

In addition to financial penalties, other operational and commercial consequences may affect your organization:

• User reports or complaints - people can report access barriers.
• Temporary suspension of access to the digital service if the situation so requires.
• Loss of public contracts or partnerships if non-compliance is detected during a call for tenders.
• Damage to reputation and loss of confidence among users, particularly disabled people.
• Forced compliance costs and urgent interventions, often more costly than planned corrections.

If you receive a complaint: 1) document the report; 2) launch a priority accessibility audit; 3) put in place temporary measures (e.g. accessible alternatives) and a corrective plan; 4) keep proof of your actions - this can reduce risks and demonstrate your good faith to the authorities.

Tip: anticipate these risks with a gradual, documented improvement in accessibility. A quick audit can identify priorities and limit the impact on your users and online activities.

What impact will this have on Belgian companies?

For companies established in Belgium, the EAA is first and foremost a legal obligation, but also a double opportunity: to reduce legal risks by anticipating sanctions, and to gain market share by making your services accessible to a wider audience.

1. Anticipate legal sanctions: compliance limits financial and administrative risks.
2. Strengthen digital presence: by making your content usable by more users, you reach customers who are often overlooked.

In concrete terms, an accessible site improves :

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO): logical content and HTML structure promote indexing and discovery.
• Conversion rate: a better user experience reduces friction and increases sales or registrations.
• Brand image: position yourself as a responsible company committed to inclusion.

Concrete examples: an accessible Belgian online store simplifies the purchasing process for visually impaired users; an accessible corporate website facilitates access to information for all seniors. These improvements concern both substance (content) and form (technical design).

If you would like a quick assessment : request an accessibility diagnosis to identify priorities and define an action plan adapted to your structure in Belgium.

How can you make your site compliant?

Compliance requires specialized web expertise: auditing, technical corrections and user testing. Here's a clear, pragmatic process that you can follow or ask a service provider to implement.

1. Initial audit (accessibility analysis): inventory of critical pages, automated testing and manual testing with assistive technologies (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver). Approximate duration: 1-2 weeks, depending on site size.
2. Prioritized report List of problems classified by user impact and technical complexity, with WCAG criteria and concrete recommendations (HTML/CSS/JS, content, images, forms).
3. Implementation technical corrections (semantic structure, ARIA labels, keyboard navigation, contrasts) and content optimization (alternative texts, transcriptions, clarity of information).
4. User tests Sessions with disabled people to validate real-life experience and adjust corrections.
5. Verification and documentation Compliance: generation of a compliance report based on standards (EN 301 549 / WCAG) and preservation of evidence (logs, tests, corrections) to meet obligations.

At Webiphi, We apply this process, using auditing tools (automated and manual) as well as real tests with users. We offer tailor-made solutions - from one-off fixes to complete overhauls - for showcase sites, e-commerce or service platforms.

Typical process (example schedule): Initial audit (2 weeks) → Prioritization & planning (1 week) → Technical corrections (2-6 weeks depending on complexity) → User tests and final report.

If you would like us to accompany you : Compliant website design in Belgium - ask for a free audit or an estimate tailored to your project.

Things to remember

Element	Detail
Current law	European Accessibility Act (EU Directive 2019/882)
Application	Since June 28, 2025 - check national transposition for practical details in Belgium.
Companies concerned	Private sector including commercial websites, e-commerce, banking, online services, applications and digital media.
Standards to be met	EN 301 549 and WCAG recommendations (reference: WCAG 2.1 level AA - check whether national updates require WCAG 2.2).
Exceptions	Micro-businesses (exemption possible) subject to documented justification of disproportionate burden.
Risks	Fines (up to €200,000), daily penalties, suspension of access, loss of public contracts and damage to reputation.
Opportunities	Improved accessibility: better SEO, clearer content, improved user experience and inclusive branding - lasting gains for your online presence.

Official and reliable sources

• European Commission - Presentation of the EAA (external link)
• EU Directive 2019/882 - Official text (external link)
• EN 301 549 standard - presentation and references (external link)
• Fieldfisher - Sanctions and obligations by country (external link)
• Belgian portal - practical information on accessibility and national obligations (external link)