The European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into effect in June 2025, and for digital publishers across the EU, the implications are huge. At 3D Issue, we’re working closely with publishers large and small as they prepare for this regulatory sea change. Accessibility is no longer a nice-to-have; it will soon be a fundamental requirement for every digital magazine that serves European audiences.
Why Accessibility for Digital Magazines Matters… Now More Than Ever
Accessibility means creating content that everyone-including people with disabilities-can consume, navigate, and interact with fully. According to the European Commission’s estimates, over 135 million people in Europe live with some form of disability. That’s a vast audience who risk being excluded if your publication is not accessible. But beyond compliance, accessible design demonstrates a deep respect for your readers, broadens your market reach, and positions your brand as progressive and future-focused.
What Does the European Accessibility Act Require?
The EAA will require all publishers serving EU customers to ensure that their digital publications-including magazines, flipbooks, eBooks, and any related online materials-are accessible. This covers websites, mobile apps, PDFs, and any platforms you use for distributing or selling your publications. Non-compliance could lead to financial penalties, legal action, and significant reputational damage.
- Effective date: June 28, 2025
- Applicable to: Publishers and service providers offering digital content, products, or services within the EU
- Accessibility standard: Publications must meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA criteria
The Essential Accessibility Criteria Publishers Need to Meet
- Text that works for everyone: Must be readable by screen readers, with scalable fonts and adaptable layouts for users with vision or cognitive disabilities.
- Alt text for images: Provide meaningful alternative text for every photograph, diagram, or infographic in your publication.
- Logical/sequenced navigation: Content needs structured headings, a clear table of contents, and labeled buttons, enabling easy navigation by keyboard or assistive tech.
- Color contrast and customization: Ensure good foreground/background contrast and permit font and display customization for individual needs.
- Accessible multimedia: All videos must have captions and/or transcripts; audio content should provide written scripts.
- Keyboard accessibility: All interactive elements-links, buttons, embedded media-should be usable by keyboard alone.
- Accessibility metadata: Declare all the ways your content is accessible in its metadata so readers and search engines can discover it.
If you use a solution like Flipbooks or our Experios platform, ensuring compliance with these technical points is a streamlined (and mostly codeless) process.
How to Prepare: A Publisher’s Accessibility Roadmap
- Take stock of your digital output. List every magazine, supplement, archived issue-even one-offs-distributed to readers within the EU. Don’t forget PDFs and promotional materials.
- Run an accessibility audit. Use a combination of automated tools and manual testing to check each publication against WCAG 2.1 AA. It’s critical to spot issues with structure, contrast, alt texts, and navigation early. Even with intuitive platforms, a human eye never hurts!
- Train your team. Editors, writers, and designers all play a part in accessibility. Investing in their understanding (through training or onboarding) means those critical mistakes are less likely to slip through.
- Integrate accessibility into your creative process. Make accessibility checks a part of your design, editorial, and publishing workflow. The earlier you think about it, the easier it is to deliver consistently compliant publications without last-minute scrambles.
- Use purpose-built tools. Tools like Experios offer codeless design with accessibility by default. Our integrated accessibility validator alerts you in real time if a feature doesn’t meet requirements, saving you from costly and stressful remediation later.
- Stay updated on laws and best practices. Accessibility standards evolve. Keep learning, stay in the loop on EAA guidance, and continue adapting your practices post-2025.
A Practical Accessibility Features Checklist
- Screen-reader compatibility and logical reading order
- Alt text for all images, graphics, and complex visuals
- Proper use of headings, lists, tables, and buttons
- High color contrast (minimum 4.5:1 for text)
- Resizable font sizes and support for user’s custom display settings
- Keyboard navigation for all interactive features
- Captions for video, transcripts for audio content
- Descriptive metadata detailing your accessibility features
What If You Don’t Comply?
The immediate risk is legal: publishers face potential fines, forced content takedowns, and legal action from users or advocacy groups. But to us, the bigger risk is missing out-on audience and on reputation. Accessible content is simply good content, and it’s fast becoming the global standard.
- Lost reach and reputation: Accessible publications open up your magazine to millions of extra potential readers.
- Efficiency gains: Building accessibility from the ground up reduces rework and support queries in the long run.
Why Early Adopters Will Win
Embedding accessibility now means less stress as the 2025 deadline approaches. You’ll be ready for new markets, able to pitch to socially responsible advertisers, and your whole team gains digital skills that will serve you long past the regulatory pressure. Forward-thinking publishers who get it right now also shape the best practices for the industry.
How 3D Issue Helps Publishers Prepare-On Your Terms
We designed Experios and Flipbooks so that publishers don’t need specialist technical skills to achieve best-practice accessibility. Here’s what makes our platforms distinctive:
- WCAG-ready out of the box: Drag-and-drop templates and content blocks are structured to meet accessibility standards-no coding required.
- Accessibility validator: Real-time feedback as you build, so you address issues instantly.
- Full control of hosting and branding: Host on our secure cloud or your own infrastructure, all fully compliant.
- Analytics for every audience: Our dashboards help you measure readership, including the impact of your accessibility initiatives.
The Publisher’s Quick Accessibility Readiness Checklist
- Have you audited for WCAG 2.1 AA on every publication?
- Are your magazines structured for screen readers and keyboard-only navigation?
- Does every image, chart, or video include alt text or a caption?
- Can font sizes and colors be customized for individual needs?
- Is your team trained in accessibility basics for editorial, design, and platform use?
- Are you prepared to update your practices as the law or best practices change?
Take the Next Step
Unlocking accessibility for your digital magazines is easier than you might think-and if you get it right, you’re not just protecting yourself from fines, you’re standing out as a leader among publishers. With the right tools and approach, accessible design becomes second nature, not a burden.
Ready to explore how Experios or Flipbooks can simplify EAA compliance and help you deliver truly inclusive digital magazines? Contact us today for a free walkthrough or trial. Let’s make your content open to every reader, everywhere.
