Coordination of EAA enforcement

Early this summer, the EAA Article 28 Working Group held ist first meeting, marking an important milestone in the implementation of the European Accessibility Act (EAA). Funka Foundation’s Managing Director Susanna Laurin has been appointed by the European Commission to represent the International Association of Accessibility Professionals (IAAP) in the working group.

The group has been established to facilitate cooperation and exchange between regulators responsible for enforcing the directive across the EU.

Supporting consistent implementation across the EU

While the EAA creates a harmonised legal framework, its success depends on consistent interpretation and enforcement by national authorities.

As with many other pieces of EU legislation, member states face common challenges when implementing new legal requirements. Different regulatory structures, national practices and levels of maturity can lead to diverging interpretations unless there are mechanisms for coordination and knowledge sharing.

To address this, Article 28 of the EAA requires the European Commission to establish a permanent working group consisting of representatives from market surveillance authorities, competent authorities responsible for services, and relevant stakeholders, including organisations representing persons with disabilities.

The group provides a structured forum where regulators can exchange experiences, discuss practical implementation issues, and work towards a more consistent application of the directive throughout the internal market.

A platform for collaboration

The working group will support exchanges between regulators, end users, industry representatives and other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Directive. It will also assist the European Commission by providing expertise related to the implementation of existing EU legislation, programmes and policies, as well as contributing to discussions on delegated acts, future legislative proposals and policy initiatives connected to the EAA.

This ongoing dialogue is particularly important during the first years of implementation, when many questions arise regarding interpretation, market surveillance, complaint handling and practical enforcement.

The role of accessibility professionals

The appointment of IAAP to the working group ensures that the practical experience and expertise of accessibility professionals are represented alongside regulators and organisations representing persons with disabilities.

Accessibility professionals play a unique role in translating legal requirements into practical implementation. By bringing practical experience into these discussions, IAAP can contribute to more consistent implementation across the EU and ultimately better outcomes for people with disabilities.