From June 28, 2025, the European Accessibility Directive will come into effect for publishers wishing to publish ebooks within the European Union, regardless of whether they are established in the EU or not. Does this apply to you? What are the accessibility requirements? And what are the risks in the event of an inspection?
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Digital technology creates new opportunities for people with disabilities, and the book industry has a key role to play in ensuring content is accessible to all. This is the goal of the European Directive on accessible ebooks.
As the first link in the chain, publishers are directly impacted by this legislation. However, other stakeholders must also be involved:
Initially, only new releases will be affected. Digital books published before June 28, 2025, will not be subject to this legal requirement until June 28, 2030.
All digital books published within the European Union must meet specific accessibility criteria, regardless of where you are based. These include:
Does this apply to all publishers wishing to publish ebooks within the European Union? You may be eligible for an exemption from accessibility requirements under the following conditions:
If your publishing house has fewer than 10 employees and an annual turnover or balance sheet total not exceeding 2 million euros, you may qualify for an exemption.
An exemption may be granted if making a book accessible would require altering its content in a way that compromises its integrity. This applies to cases where content and form are inseparable, such as comic books.
Exemptions based on fundamental content changes or disproportionate burden must be formally declared and justified in accordance with a procedure that, for the time being, is likely to be country-specific.
In the meantime, the next section will provide an analysis and updates on the practical application of the European Directive on accessible digital books, broken down by country.
Although the legislative framework on the ebook accessibility applies throughout the European Union, the terms of its application can vary from country to country.
National enforcement bodies are gradually clarifying their enforcement procedures and potential risks. We’ve compiled key information from each of them into a summary table to give you a clear picture of how the law is being applied in each EU Member State.
You can also read our detailed article on how the Directive is being implemented in France.
