{"id":1620,"date":"2025-05-21T19:20:23","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T16:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/?p=1620"},"modified":"2025-05-21T20:13:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-21T17:13:08","slug":"european-accessibility-act-fines-for-non-compliant-websites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/european-accessibility-act-fines-for-non-compliant-websites\/","title":{"rendered":"European Accessibility Act (EAA): Fines up to \u20ac100,000 for Non-Compliant Websites"},"content":{"rendered":"

June 28, 2025 marks a critical milestone for Greek businesses offering products or services to the public via websites. On this date, Part B of Law 4994\/2022<\/strong> enters into full force, incorporating Directive (EU) 2019\/882<\/strong> (European Accessibility Act) into national legislation. This new obligation brings documented compliance requirements<\/strong> as well as significant penalties<\/strong> for non-compliant entities.<\/p>\n

This is a practical compliance guide for businesses<\/strong>, as well as for consumers who seek accessibility as a right.<\/p>\n

Who falls under the scope of the Law?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Law 4994\/2022 applies to:<\/p>\n

\u27a4 Manufacturers, importers, and distributors of products such as:<\/h4>\n
    \n
  • \n

    Payment terminals, computers, operating systems,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    E-book reading devices,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  • \n

    Self-service machines (e.g., ATMs, ticketing kiosks).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \u27a4 Websites of service providers to the public, including:<\/h4>\n
      \n
    • \n

      Banking or financial services,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      E-commerce (e.g., eshops, marketplaces),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Electronic communications (telephony, VoIP),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Ticket sales and transport bookings (ferries, airlines, buses),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Digital book services (e.g., e-books),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

    • \n

      Automated information services via technical devices.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Who is NOT Subject to the Law?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

      The law does not apply to purely informational websites<\/strong> with no commercial character or services within its scope. Examples include:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • \n

        Personal blogs,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        News portals or online magazines (if not offering paid e-subscriptions),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

      • \n

        Corporate websites without online functionalities or services.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        What Must Compliant Entities Do?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

        1. Assess Products & Services<\/strong>
        Identify how and where products\/services may exclude users with disabilities. Accessibility must be integrated at the design stage<\/strong> (\u201caccessibility by design\u201d).<\/p>\n

        2. Technical Adaptation & Compatibility<\/strong>
        Ensure that products and services:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • \n

          Are compatible with assistive technologies (e.g., screen readers, Braille),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Offer navigation without a mouse,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

        • \n

          Provide multi-sensory content (audio, visual, tactile).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          3. Declaration of Conformity<\/strong><\/p>\n

            \n
          • \n

            Draft a Declaration of Conformity<\/strong>,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Maintain a technical documentation file<\/strong>,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

          • \n

            Publish clear, accessible compliance information.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

            4. CE Marking (for products)<\/strong><\/p>\n

              \n
            • \n

              Products must bear the CE mark before entering the market,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

            • \n

              Marking must be accompanied by relevant documentation and available to authorities.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

              5. Staff Training & Public Information<\/strong><\/p>\n

                \n
              • \n

                Train staff on handling accessibility requirements and customer support for persons with disabilities.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                \u00a0Practical Examples<\/strong><\/h3>\n
                \n
                \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
                Sector<\/th>\nObligation<\/th>\nExample<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
                Banking Services<\/strong><\/td>\nAccessible ATMs & mobile banking<\/td>\nVoice instructions, screen reader-compatible e-banking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                E-Commerce<\/strong><\/td>\nAccessible web design<\/td>\nKeyboard navigation, alt-text for product images<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                eBooks & Readers<\/strong><\/td>\nAlternative reading formats<\/td>\nAdjustable font size, text-to-speech support<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                Self-Service Devices<\/strong><\/td>\nAccessibility for persons with disabilities<\/td>\nProper device height, tactile buttons, NFC voice guidance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
                E-Ticketing\/Bookings<\/strong><\/td>\nBarrier-free ticketing and seat selection<\/td>\nScreen reader-friendly interfaces, descriptive seat selection options<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
                \n
                <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

                Compliance Standards \u2013 How is Compliance Presumed?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                Compliance is presumed if:<\/p>\n

                  \n
                • \n

                  WCAG 2.1 Guidelines<\/strong> (at least AA level) are met,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                • \n

                  The EN 301 549<\/strong> European standard for ICT is applied,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                • \n

                  Future Common Technical Specifications<\/strong> issued by the European Commission are adopted.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                  Sanctions & Administrative Fines<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                  According to Article 26 of Law 4994\/2022<\/strong>, competent authorities may impose:<\/p>\n

                    \n
                  • \n

                    Administrative fines up to \u20ac100,000<\/strong>,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  • \n

                    Suspension of service operations or product availability<\/strong> in serious cases,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                  • \n

                    Withdrawal orders<\/strong> and public disclosure of non-compliance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                    The severity of penalties depends on:<\/p>\n

                      \n
                    • \n

                      The seriousness and duration of the violation,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                    • \n

                      The number of affected individuals,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                    • \n

                      Any recurrence or negligence in compliance.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                      What Can Consumers Do?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                      Consumers have the right to:<\/p>\n

                        \n
                      • \n

                        Request accessible versions of information<\/strong> (audio, tactile, easy-to-read),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                      • \n

                        File complaints to competent authorities<\/strong> (e.g., EETT, Consumer Secretariat, Ministry of Transport),<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                      • \n

                        Request adjustments or corrections<\/strong> if services\/products are inaccessible.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                        Next Steps for Businesses<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                        With the compliance deadline set for June 28, 2025<\/strong>, businesses are advised to:<\/p>\n

                          \n
                        • \n

                          Conduct accessibility audits<\/strong> on websites, apps, and devices,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                        • \n

                          Provide staff training<\/strong> and client awareness<\/strong>,<\/p>\n<\/li>\n

                        • \n

                          Work with specialized legal and technical consultants<\/strong> (if not already initiated).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

                          Conclusion<\/strong><\/h3>\n

                          Law 4994\/2022 introduces a regulatory shift: from minimal compliance to inclusion by design<\/strong>. Accessibility is no longer a recommendation \u2014 it is a legal obligation<\/strong> and a strategic advantage<\/strong> for businesses committed to sustainability, accountability, and competitiveness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                          June 28, 2025 marks a critical milestone for Greek businesses offering products or services to the public via websites. On this date, Part B of Law 4994\/2022 enters into full force, incorporating Directive (EU) 2019\/882 (European Accessibility Act) into national legislation. This new obligation brings documented compliance requirements as well as significant penalties for non-compliant […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":1618,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[289,46,290,288,162],"class_list":["post-1620","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-en","tag-accessibility","tag-compliance-en","tag-eea","tag-european-accessibility-act-eaa","tag-sgklegal-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1620","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1620"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1620\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1622,"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1620\/revisions\/1622"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1620"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1620"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sgklegal.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1620"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}