The new European Accessibility Act (EAA 2025) on accessibility is mandatory as of January

The new European Accessibility Act (EAA) introduces a common framework for digital accessibility across the entire European Union. This directive, which strengthens Royal Decree 1112/2018, marks a turning point in digital inclusion. Within this context, GVAM consolidates its role as a benchmark in cultural accessibility, offering audio guides and technological solutions aligned with the new European requirements.

The EAA was created with the objective of ensuring that digital products and services are accessible to everyone, regardless of their abilities. The directive maintains the requirements of the 2018 Royal Decree but grants them greater legal enforcement power, incorporating the possibility of European-level sanctions in case of non-compliance. Among its main pillars are the creation of regional monitoring bodies, a progressive implementation timeline —starting in July 2025 for sectors such as banking and extending until 2030 for other areas, including the cultural sector—, and the incorporation of WCAG 2.2 standards, which expand accessibility criteria for both websites and mobile applications, addressing not only tool access but the entire navigation flow across screens.

In this new scenario, GVAM reinforces its commitment to digital accessibility within the tourism and cultural sectors. Its accessible audio guides already integrate multiple features that facilitate EAA compliance, such as audio description for visually impaired individuals, subtitling and transcriptions for hearing impaired individuals, plain language, a simple interface adapted to different user profiles, as well as full compatibility with the WAI-ARIA standard for mobile screen readers. These tools enable museums, exhibitions, and cultural routes to offer truly inclusive experiences, complying with EAA standards and reinforcing their social commitment.

In order to guarantee maximum rigor in the application of accessibility criteria, the company collaborates with ILUNION Accesibilidad, a leading organization in the field of inclusion and the technical interpretation of the EAA in Spain. GVAM’s goal is to audit and validate its solutions with ILUNION so that its clients can benefit from this certification.

Technology only makes sense if it is at the service of people. At GVAM, we believe that accessibility is the core of responsible innovation, and we work every day to ensure that culture and tourism are shared, open, and barrier-free experiences. Culture belongs to everyone. And with GVAM, it is also accessible to everyone