When we talk about digital accessibility in Europe, we often refer to the WCAG or the new European Accessibility Act (EAA). But to really understand how accessibility is implemented on the ground, it’s important to look at how each country has translated these principles into practice. Let’s take France for an example – a country with a long-standing, structured approach to digital accessibility. And today, as the EAA becomes enforceable across the EU, France’s experience offers valuable lessons.
Law 2005: the foundation
The modern French accessibility framework begins with the Law of 11 February 2005:
“Pour l’égalité des droits et des chances, la participation et la citoyenneté des personnes handicapées”
This law established a legal obligation for public sector websites to be accessible to people with disabilities – not just physically, but digitally. It positioned access to digital services as a fundamental right.
- It was one of the first national laws in Europe to make web accessibility mandatory
- It led to the creation of France’s own accessibility framework: RGAA (Référentiel Général d’Amélioration de l’Accessibilité)
RGAA: France’s structured method
France chose to go beyond WCAG by creating a practical testing and compliance methodology – the RGAA. It is:
- Based on WCAG, but includes strict, testable criteria
- Published and updated by the DINUM (interministerial digital authority)
- Structured around detailed criteria and test units, which auditors must follow
- Legally binding for public sector sites, and increasingly adopted by private sector companies, especially those in regulated fields (transport, banking, education)
RGAA is often praised for offering clarity, but it’s also seen as strict and technical, especially for teams new to accessibility. Latest version: RGAA 4.1
Decree 2019-768: from obligation to enforcement
In 2019, the French government issued Decree n°2019-768, which strengthened accessibility obligations by introducing:
- The mandatory publication of an accessibility statement
- A requirement for accessibility improvement plans
- A mechanism for public monitoring and reporting
- Possible fines for non-compliance (up to €25,000 per year)
This marked a shift: accessibility moved from legal principle to enforceable obligation with consequences for inaction.
Present: enter the EAA (2025)
The European Accessibility Act (EAA) brings new challenges and France must now extend accessibility obligations to the private sector in many areas: e-commerce, banking services, digital education platforms, transport and ticketing systems, communication technologies.
France will transpose the EAA into national law (some of it already overlaps with existing rules), but we can expect: RGAA to remain a core reference, new regulations for private businesses, continued involvement of DINUM and other key players in defining standards and training.
What makes the French approach unique?
- A strong legal foundation (since 2005)
- A national framework (RGAA) that goes beyond WCAG
- A focus on testing and measurable compliance
- Early alignment with UN CRPD principles
- A combination of policy, methodology, and enforcement
For other EU countries, the French model shows how to operationalize accessibility – turning principles into practical, enforceable rules.
As a web accessibility specialist working in France, I’ve seen first-hand how much progress has been made and how much complexity still remains. The challenge now is ensuring that as France adapts to the EAA, it continues to balance legal clarity with real inclusion for users.
Accessibility is not just a legal obligation – it’s a responsibility to design services that truly work for everyone.
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