EAA Fines and Penalties: What Each EU Country Can Charge
EAA Fines and Penalties: What Each EU Country Can Charge
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) — EU Directive 2019/882 — became enforceable across all 27 EU member states on June 28, 2025. Each country has transposed the directive into national law, with its own fine ranges and enforcement mechanisms. Understanding your exposure is the first step to prioritizing compliance.
This guide covers the fine ranges, enforcement bodies, and key legal texts for each EU member state.
How EAA Enforcement Works
The EAA sets minimum requirements but gives member states flexibility in how they enforce it. Enforcement is typically triggered by:
- Complaints from users with disabilities
- Proactive inspections by national enforcement bodies
- Reports from disability organizations
- Self-reporting obligations under the directive
Non-compliance can result in mandatory corrective actions, public disclosure of violations, and financial penalties. In the most severe cases, products and services may be banned from the market.
Fine Ranges by Country
Germany — Up to €100,000
Enforcement body: Überwachungsstelle des Bundes für Barrierefreiheit von Informationstechnik (BFIT)
National law: Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG)
Fine range: €10,000–€100,000 per violation
Germany has one of the most robust enforcement frameworks in the EU. The BFIT was established specifically to monitor and enforce digital accessibility requirements. With over 5 million active websites, Germany is a priority market for EAA enforcement.
Netherlands — Up to €900,000
Enforcement body: Autoriteit Consument & Markt (ACM)
National law: Tijdelijk besluit digitale toegankelijkheid
Fine range: €10,000–€900,000
The Netherlands has the highest maximum fines in the EU for EAA violations. The ACM is an active regulator with a track record of enforcement in digital markets.
Spain — Up to €1,000,000
Enforcement body: Ministerio de Derechos Sociales
National law: Real Decreto 1112/2018 (updated)
Fine range: €30,001–€1,000,000
Spain has the highest maximum fine in the EU — up to €1 million for serious violations. With 47 million people and 2 million active websites, Spain is one of the most important EAA markets.
France — Up to €250,000
Enforcement body: ARCOM
National law: Loi n° 2005-102 (updated for EAA)
Fine range: €20,000–€250,000
Italy — Up to €150,000
Enforcement body: AgID
National law: Legge Stanca (updated for EAA)
Fine range: €5,000–€150,000
Belgium — Up to €200,000
Enforcement body: SPF Économie
National law: Loi du 19 juillet 2024
Fine range: €1,000–€200,000
Portugal — Up to €44,890
Enforcement body: ANACOM / AMA
National law: Decreto-Lei n.º 83/2018 (updated)
Fine range: €5,000–€44,890
Austria — Up to €80,000
Enforcement body: Sozialministeriumservice
National law: Web-Zugänglichkeits-Gesetz (WZG)
Fine range: €5,000–€80,000
Sweden — Up to €100,000
Enforcement body: DIGG
Fine range: €5,000–€100,000
Ireland — Up to €60,000
Enforcement body: NDA
Fine range: €5,000–€60,000
Who Is Subject to the EAA?
The EAA applies to private sector companies (with some exemptions for microenterprises) offering products or services in the EU, including:
- E-commerce websites and apps
- Banking and financial services
- Passenger transport services
- Consumer electronics
- E-books and e-readers
- ATMs and ticketing machines
How to Protect Yourself
The best protection against EAA fines is genuine compliance. EAAPass provides a comprehensive WCAG 2.1 AA audit, a PDF compliance report, and a verifiable certificate. Our country-specific guidance tells you exactly which authority enforces the law in your market and what the fine ranges are.
Run your free audit at eaapass.eu — results in under 60 seconds, no signup required.