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.