New legal requirement for websites

Good to know about Digital Accessibility WCAG

We at seodr. delivers many websites every year and of course believes that everyone has an equal right to access the internet, regardless of disability. That's why we already work according to the new legal requirements WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) that will be introduced in the EU in June 2025. Here is a brief summary of the legal requirements and what they mean.

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Lars Nordengren
Senior SEO & AI Strategist

New EU law on accessibility

As of 28 June 2025, a new EU law affecting digital businesses will enter into force.

The law applies to companies with:

More than 10 employees
Annual turnover over €2.5 million

Background and origins

The internet has not always been accessible to everyone. Therefore, in 1995, the Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI) was founded by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) with a clear goal: to create a digital world where people with disabilities can fully participate. The WAI developed guidelines for digital accessibility, known as Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG):

1995: First guidelines launched
2008: WCAG 2.0 was introduced
2018: Current version WCAG 2.1 was launched

WCAG 2.1 is now the standard framework for web accessibility and is divided into three levels:

Level A: Basic accessibility
Level AA: Recommended level for businesses
Level AAA: Full accessibility

Companies are expected to fulfil level AA, which means requirements such as:

Good colour contrast
Clear content structure with headings
Consistent navigation on the website

The aim is simple: to create digital experiences that are inclusive and useful for everyone, regardless of ability.

Tips on how to improve the accessibility of your website

Accessible design
Your website should be designed to be compatible with assistive technologies such as screen readers and other alternative input devices. This affects the design of HTML semantics, text options for non-text content such as images, and the logic of the reading order.
Responsive design
The platform should be responsive and adapt to different devices and screen sizes, including computers, tablets and smartphones.
Keyboard navigation
Users should be able to navigate through the website using only the keyboard. This means that all interactive elements should be accessible and usable without using the mouse.
Colour contrast
Make sure there is sufficient colour contrast between text, elements and background to to make the content readable for everyone.
Alternative content
Provide alternative formats for content such as video transcripts, audio descriptions and accessible PDFs to meet different user needs.
Alternative caption
Add descriptions for images, so that users with visual impairments understand what the image represents. A screen reader will read out the alternative text.
Available forms
Forms should be created in a way that can be easily understood and filled in by all users. Use proper form labelling, error identification and clear instructions.
Testing and feedback
Test the platform regularly with both automated and manual tests. This can also be done by persons with disabilities to properly identify and resolve accessibility issues.
Education and awareness
Make sure that the responsibility for accessibility is embedded throughout your team, and that everyone is aware of the accessibility standard. From design to development, testers and editors. Everyone has a responsibility and should understand how their part affects the accessibility of your website.

Do you need help to make your website accessible?

Me and my colleagues at seodr. happy to help! Contact us and let's talk about how we can make your website accessible and user-friendly for your visitors.