The European Accessibility Act is a directive — meaning each EU country implemented it locally with its own penalty regime. Fines vary wildly. Below is a practical breakdown for the countries with the most active enforcement in 2026.
EAA fines Germany
Germany implemented the EAA via the Barrierefreiheitsstärkungsgesetz (BFSG). Federal market surveillance is run by the Marktüberwachungsstelle der Länder.
- Administrative fines up to €100,000 per violation
- Repeat or systemic offenders: market access can be revoked
- Mandatory remediation orders with 30-day deadlines
EAA fines France
France enforces via the DGCCRF. Penalties were significantly raised in late 2025.
- Up to €25,000 per individual violation
- Up to €250,000 for systemic non-compliance
- Public 'name and shame' database of non-compliant companies
EAA fines Spain, Italy, Netherlands
Each implements EAA differently, but all share a willingness to start audits at SME level — not just big corporations.
- Spain: €30,000 base fine, up to €1M for serious systemic violations
- Italy: €5,000–€40,000 per channel of distribution
- Netherlands: ACM-led enforcement with binding remediation orders
FAQ
Are SMBs really being fined?
Yes. The EAA exempts micro-enterprises (<10 employees AND <€2M revenue) for some products — but consumer e-commerce is mostly not exempt.