Over 94% of Belgian websites do not comply with mandatory accessibility requirements for people with disabilities, according to the inaugural European “Digital Trust Index” by Belgian digital consultancy Craftzing, which tested the accessibility of more than 260,000 websites across 18 European countries, including 7,408 popular websites in Belgium.
From 28 June 2025, the European Accessibility Act (EAA) will require essential services and products from European companies and organisations to meet minimum criteria to ensure accessibility for everyone, regardless of disabilities. Eurostat data reveals that one out of four adults in Europe has a disability. In response, Craftzing examined European websites for their compliance with EAA criteria, finding that a staggering 94.2% of the 7,408 Belgian homepages screened failed to meet these standards.
The problems are especially challenging for individuals with visual impairments. The study found that 71% of websites have incorrect text-to-background colour contrast, making it hard for those with colour blindness to read information. Furthermore, many websites lack descriptions for links (63%), images (33%), and buttons (18%), which are crucial for visually impaired users utilising screen readers and voice technologies for navigation and understanding content.
“Companies often address digital accessibility only after launching their digital projects, but incorporating accessibility from the outset can save time and effort,” said Roeland Tegenbos, CEO of Craftzing. “Considering that a quarter of all people have a disability, addressing accessibility can potentially expand a company’s market by the same proportion, bringing in more customers and revenue.”
Belgium ranks seventh among the 18 countries examined, with Hungary faring the worst, where 96.3% of websites fail, and Norway performing best with 87.7% non-compliance. “No country truly excels; we can only speak of the ‘least poor’ performers, as none have an acceptable level of accessibility,” Tegenbos remarked. “European organisations are far from ready for the European Accessibility Act’s implementation. At Craftzing, we advocate for strict measures, such as penalising companies for digital exclusion, to drive organisations towards a digital world where everyone can participate.”
