The digital world, unlike the physical one, is relatively new. The rise of the internet has propelled us into uncharted territory, and it is up to laws like the European Accessibility Act (EAA) to help guide us through. In Denmark, where approximately 92% of small companies (10–49 employees) have their own websites, and 36.7% of the population live with some kind of disability, the EAA holds particular relevance. It sets the rules on inclusivity, but what does compliance entail? This guide helps you navigate the complexities of the EAA, just in time for the June 2025 deadline.
What is the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) is an EU directive designed to make products and services accessible to people with disabilities throughout all of Europe. It aims to remove accessibility barriers in the single market, ensuring a consistent standard across EU member states, including Denmark.
It does this by laying down the law, mandating that EU-based companies make their business offerings accessible before June 2025, or risk facing legal consequences. As a directive, the EAA sets requirements that member states must achieve, but allows flexibility in implementation. This often means that member states adopt already-established standards as enforcement mechanisms.
Why is the EAA relevant today? With an increasing reliance on digital tools and services, accessibility is no longer optional. The EAA promotes a universal standard of accessible design, benefitting not just individuals with disabilities but also the broader population.
Free EAA Compliance Audit of your Website
Detecting EAA Compliance issues has never been easier than it is now. At Recite Me we offer a free audit of your websites homepage. This will identify and highlight any non-compliance on your website as it relates to the European Accessibility Act and WCAG. Followed by recommendations on how to implement the necessary changes to improve your websites accessibility score and standing.
Which businesses in Denmark does the European Accessibility Act apply to?
The EAA applies to any business that sells its products or services across EU borders. This applies even to non-EU businesses, like those in Switzerland, as long as they trade within the EU. In fact, microenterprises are the only exception to this. These are small companies with fewer than 10 employees or an annual turnover under €2 million.
Despite exemption, however, even microenterprises are encouraged to comply with the EAA voluntarily. This allows them to reap the same rewards as their much larger peers, stand out against competitors, and prepare for the future.
Ultimately, with the June 2025 deadline fast approaching, Danish businesses of all shapes and sizes should act now.
Accessibility laws that impact EAA compliance in Denmark
If you think the EAA applies to your organisation, and you wish to comply, you must first familiarise yourself with the regional laws and standards that serve as enforcement mechanisms for it. Since the EAA provides broad objectives rather than specific guidelines, Denmark relies on internationally recognised standards and national legislation to benchmark accessibility.
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are the gold standard for digital accessibility, created to ensure that websites and mobile application owners know how to make their products accessible. Importantly, WCAG is built on four core principles, known as POUR: Perceivable, Operable, Understandable, and Robust.
These principles form the foundations from which specific, actionable recommendations are given. For example, WCAG recommends that all images have descriptive alt text, all interfaces are navigable via keyboard, and text-background colour contrast is at a minimum of 4.5:1 for all normal-sized text.
When browsing WCAG requirements, you will notice that there are multiple versions. Each version has three compliance levels – A, AA, and AAA – where each subsequent addition of A represents an increase in accessibility standards. For EAA compliance, businesses should aim to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA, which balances accessibility and feasibility appropriately.
The Danish Web Accessibility Act
Enacted in 2018, the Danish Web Accessibility Act is a key piece of legislation that supports the country’s efforts to ensure equal access to digital services for disabled individuals. Designed to enhance the accessibility of websites and mobile applications in the public sector, the act aligns with the EAA’s digital requirements, serving as a critical mechanism for meeting its objectives within Denmark.
Since the act targets public sector organisations, institutions like government agencies and municipalities are required to ensure their digital platforms comply with WCAG 2.1 Level AA. As you can see, the expectations are clear for public sector organisations. The act both promotes the adoption of global accessibility standards and lays the groundwork for broader compliance with the EAA.
Requirements for companies in Denmark to become EAA compliant
Denmark has the second-highest proportion of disabled individuals in Europe. This reality leaves Danish businesses little room for error when it comes to EAA compliance. But in order to achieve compliance, you must first understand what is required of you. That is why, in this section, we break down some of the act’s key obligations, organised into easily digestible categories.
Digital accessibility
All digital platforms including websites, mobile apps, and software must adhere to the WCAG 2.1 Level AA. This includes ensuring clear and structured navigation, accessible multimedia, and responsive web design.
For example, a Danish e-commerce website should create a logical tab order and consistent navigation menus to help screen reader users easily locate product categories. Similarly, websites must adjust seamlessly across different devices and screen sizes, benefiting users with mobility impairments who rely on tablets or other technologies.
Accessible customer support
Historically, customer support is dealt with over the phone. But this excludes people with speech or hearing impairments for whom communicating over the phone is difficult or impossible. Instead, Danish businesses should broaden their range of customer support channels, opting for alternatives means like emailing and live chat systems.
Consider offering support documentation online as well as in braille or print. You could even start a phone line service which features text-to-speech technology to facilitate customers with hearing impairments.
Physical accessibility
While the EAA does focus on digital accessibility, physical accessibility still falls under its remit. For example, a Danish electronics store should ensure that smart devices have tactile buttons and audio feedback for visually impaired users. Similarly, brick-and-mortar stores should make reasonable accommodations for those with physical disabilities, such as the inclusion of handrails in bathrooms or lifts as an alternative to stairs.
Digital communication accessibility
Under the EAA, emails, PDFs, and other communications must be fully accessible. This involves tagging PDFs appropriately for screen readers, using simplified language to support users with cognitive disabilities, and implementing accessible email templates with proper heading structures and alt text for embedded images.
What are the risks of non-compliance with EAA standards in Denmark
Failing to comply with the EAA can create a domino effect of growth-hindering problems for your business. Each issue, whether legal, financial, or reputational, compounds the others, leading to long-term setbacks. For Danish businesses aiming to thrive in a competitive market, avoiding these risks is crucial.
Damaged reputation
In Denmark’s tight-knit and highly connected business landscape, reputational damage caused by EAA non-compliance can be particularly severe. Danish consumers value ethical and inclusive practices, meaning that accessible web design could be the difference between gaining and losing a customer.
In times when social media followers and online reviews dominate public perception, negative press can escalate quickly, amplifying the harm done to your brand. These kinds of setbacks can be difficult to come back from.
Legal penalties
Non-compliance with the EAA exposes businesses to regulatory scrutiny and legal action, which can result in hefty fines or operational restrictions. In Denmark, European Accessibility Act fines start from around €10,000 for first-time offenders, but can quickly rise with repeated offences.
A Danish e-commerce platform that neglects to make its checkout process accessible might be taken to court by an affected customer or advocacy group. If found guilty, said platform may face fines as well as costly litigation, forced suspension of operations, and be forced to take immediate corrective action. Ultimately, legal battles drain resources and tarnish reputations, making proactive compliance the safer, better route.
Missed business opportunities
Accessibility isn’t just a legal obligation; it’s also a gateway to reaching a broader customer base. Denmark has the second-highest proportion of disabled individuals in Europe, meaning a significant portion of the population relies on accessible digital services. Businesses that fail to meet EAA requirements risk alienating this valuable market segment.
A Danish tourism company with an inaccessible booking website is not only likely to miss out on sales from individuals with disabilities, but their friends and families too. These lost customers tend to instead opt for more inclusive competitor offerings. By prioritising accessibility, businesses can comply with the law while simultaneously unlocking new revenue streams.
Download your free EAA Compliance Checklist
Want to make sure your website is compliant with the European Accessibility Act? Then get started today with our EAA checklist. This document details all of the important steps you need to take to ensure your website is EAA compliant before the deadline. Work through each step to avoid the negative consequences of being non-compliant.
How to meet Denmark EAA compliance guidelines
The June 2025 deadline for EAA compliance is fast approaching. If not already in motion, Danish businesses should begin taking steps towards complying with the act, especially if they are to avoid the worst of the risks. Fortunately, we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. In this section, we outline a simple 4-step process to get you underway.
Conduct an accessibility audit
The first step toward EAA compliance is conducting a comprehensive accessibility audit of your digital platforms. Begin with automated tools like the our Accessibility Checker to identify glaring issues such as missing alt text or low-contrast elements.
However great they are, automated scans alone are not enough. Consider pairing these with manual reviews and user testing to uncover more nuanced accessibility barriers, such as poorly structured navigation or inappropriately labelled forms.
Implement WCAG 2.1 level AA guidelines
Having conducted a comprehensive audit, you should now know how accessible your site is; where you’re succeeding and where you’re failing. This gives you a great start point and the necessary information to begin implementing fixes.
Work through the results of your audit, fixing each flagged issue one-by-one according to WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards. For example, if your audit revealed that your site has low-contrast elements, find the relevant WCAG guidance on this and implement it.
Run regular accessibility tests
Once all shortcomings have been addressed, the next step is to maintain this level of accessibility. Digital platforms evolve with updates, redesigns, and new features, which can inadvertently introduce accessibility barriers if not kept on top of.
To maintain compliance, run regular audits – ideally monthly or following every significant design change or regulation update. Regularly monitoring web accessibility ensures that your website remains robust over time and helps your business adapt to changes.
Employee training
Embedding EAA training into your company culture is critical for long-term success. Train employees across various departments to understand and implement accessibility principles. Developers could focus on inclusive coding practices, such as writing semantic HTML and ensuring proper ARIA usage. Customer service teams might focus on assisting users with diverse needs, such as guiding them through accessible options or addressing specific challenges.
No matter how you choose to break up your training, the fact remains: trained staff are better able to proactively identify and resolve accessibility issues, strengthening your organisation’s ability to remain compliant into the distant future.
Need more help becoming EAA compliant?
The following resources are packed full of actionable tips and expert advice for making your digital content compliant with the European Accessibility Act:
European Accessibility Training
Take the first step to European Accessibility compliance by completing our EAA training course.
European Accessibility Act Guide
Ensure your organisation is meeting the necessary requirements for European Accessibility Act compliance.
Free EAA Audit of your Website
Download a free accessibility check of your website. This report will highlight any EAA non-compliance and how to fix it.
