On 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) came into force across all EU member states — including Cyprus. For businesses that were paying close attention, this was the culmination of a six-year legislative process that began when the directive was first approved in 2019. For many others, it passed without much notice. A year on, the question worth asking is: where does your organisation actually stand?
What the Regulation Requires — and Who It Applies To
The EAA sets mandatory accessibility requirements for a broad range of consumer-facing products and services: websites, mobile applications, e-commerce platforms, banking services, e-books, transport ticketing systems, and digital communications services, among others. The underlying technical standard is EN 301 549, which incorporates the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA.
From 28 June 2025, any new product or service placed on the market must comply. Existing products and services have until 28 June 2030 — but this grace period only applies to organisations that have made no updates since June 2025. In practice, almost every organisation with a website, an app, or a customer portal has updated something since that date, which means they are already in scope.
The EAA explicitly exempts micro-enterprises — those with fewer than ten employees and annual turnover below two million euros — from compliance requirements. However, even exempt organisations are strongly encouraged to adopt accessible practices, both for ethical reasons and because accessibility typically improves usability for everyone.
The 2030 Deadline Is Closer Than It Looks
Four years may sound like sufficient time, but organisations that wait until 2029 to begin will find themselves managing a costly, disruptive remediation process under time pressure. Accessibility audits, content restructuring, developer training, and workflow changes take time to implement properly. Organisations that begin now — with a structured audit, a prioritised remediation plan, and staff training — will find the process manageable and the results lasting.
There is also a commercial case. Approximately 87 million people in the EU live with a disability. Older adults — a growing segment of Cyprus's tourism market — frequently rely on accessibility features to navigate digital services. Organisations that invest in accessibility are not merely achieving compliance; they are expanding their accessible customer base.
Where to Start
A digital accessibility audit is the logical first step. It identifies the specific gaps in your current products and services, prioritises them by risk and effort, and produces a remediation roadmap your team can act on.
EduSynergy offers both structured training and advisory support for organisations navigating EAA compliance. Our HRDA-subsidised seminar on accessible document creation gives your team the practical skills to produce compliant digital content from day one. For organisations requiring a full audit and remediation plan, our accessibility consulting service — led by Marianna Gregoriou, MSc (King's College London) — provides end-to-end support.