How well are countries across the EU doing when it comes to digital accessibility?

Digital accessibility is becoming increasingly important as Europe pushes forward with initiatives to ensure that everyone, including people with disabilities, can access online services and digital products. With the Web Accessibility Directive (2018) already in force for public sector websites, and the upcoming European Accessibility Act (EAA) 2025 set to expand these standards to private sector organisations, the landscape is changing rapidly.

To assess how ready different EU countries are for this digital shift, we analysed the digital accessibility maturity of all 27 EU member states, and included the UK (being formerly a member and part of the Accessibility Directive). Our ranking system evaluates countries based on factors such as their adoption of accessibility legislation, the effectiveness of enforcement, public awareness, training availability, and user engagement. This provides a clear view of how well countries are positioned to meet the growing demands of accessibility.

Our maturity model is based on five key factors:

• Legislation and policy: Adoption of the Web Accessibility Directive and national laws.
• Implementation and monitoring: The degree to which accessibility standards are enforced and websites are monitored.
• Public awareness and training: Awareness campaigns and accessibility training programs for developers and public officials.
• User experience and engagement: Involvement of people with disabilities in usability testing and design processes.
• Innovation and collaboration: Efforts to innovate in accessibility and collaboration between public, private, and third-sector organisations.

These factors allow for a nuanced scoring system, where strong performance in one area may offset lower performance in another. For example, a country with limited monitoring processes might still score well overall due to its strong collaboration with neighbouring countries and organisations.

Each country has been assigned a maturity level on a scale of 1 to 5, where:

• Level 5 indicates a well-released integration and monitoring of accessibility standards.
• Level 1 represents countries in the early stages of developing an accessibility framework.

It’s important to note that these scores represent an expected level of preparedness based on available resources, current frameworks, and the anticipated challenges of implementing the European Accessibility Act. Although all countries have baseline legislative measures, some may lack the structure or enforcement necessary to drive impactful change, which is reflected in their scores.

It should also be recognised that even in countries identified as having a Level 5 score, there is still plenty of room for improvement. Accessibility is an ongoing process, and organisations need to ensure they are constantly iterating to meet the needs of their users.

Here’s how the 27 EU countries (and UK) rank according to their digital accessibility maturity:

Tier 1: Integrated and monitored (highest maturity)

Countries in this tier have not only implemented accessibility standards but also actively monitor compliance, with strong user engagement and innovation. These countries are leaders in digital accessibility.

• Sweden
• Finland
• Denmark
• United Kingdom (UK)

Tier 2: Structured approach

These countries have made significant strides in enforcing accessibility laws, but may still face challenges in certain areas, such as user engagement or innovation.

• Estonia
• Ireland
• Netherlands
• Germany

Tier 3: Developing framework

Countries in this tier have adopted accessibility legislation but have yet to fully implement or enforce it consistently.

• France
• Austria
• Belgium
• Italy
• Latvia
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Slovakia
• Spain

Tier 4: Ad hoc implementation

These countries have some accessibility policies in place, but enforcement is inconsistent, and public awareness remains low.

• Portugal
• Greece
• Bulgaria
• Croatia
• Hungary
• Romania
• Slovenia

Tier 5: Emerging accessibility foundations (lowest maturity)

These countries are in the early stages of developing their accessibility frameworks, and compliance with the Web Accessibility Directive is low.

• Malta
• Cyprus
• Poland

• Sweden: Sweden is a leader in digital accessibility, with strong legislation and enforcement. Public awareness campaigns have successfully raised the profile of accessibility, and the government actively monitors compliance with WCAG 2.1 standards. Sweden’s private sector is also highly engaged in accessibility, making it well-positioned for the European Accessibility Act in 2025.
• Italy: While Italy has adopted accessibility legislation and has made efforts to comply with the Web Accessibility Directive, enforcement has been inconsistent. Public awareness is growing, but many government websites still fail to meet the required standards. Italy will need to strengthen its framework to meet the EAA’s requirements.
• Malta: Malta has only begun to develop its digital accessibility framework. Although the Web Accessibility Directive has been adopted, many public sector websites are not compliant with WCAG standards. Malta will need significant resources and training to bring both the public and private sectors up to speed.

The digital accessibility landscape in the EU varies significantly by country. While leaders like Sweden, UK, and Denmark are paving the way for a more inclusive digital future, other countries are still building the foundations of accessibility. As the European Accessibility Act (2025) approaches, both the public and private sectors across the EU must work together to ensure compliance and deliver inclusive digital experiences for all.

At Nexer, we’re raising awareness about the European Accessibility Act, and the importance for business to strive beyond compliance and embrace accessibility as a core principle across their products, services and teams. Our national ‘I Matter Too’ campaign explores the experiences of people with disabilities interacting with digital services and offers practical advice for businesses who want to improve accessibility. Watch our video to learn more about ‘I Matter Too’.

If you’d like to speak to us about how we can support your team with accessibility, please get in touch with us at: hello@nexergroup.com