Presumption of Conformity
If a product or service conforms to a harmonised standard whose reference is published in the Official Journal of the EU, it is *presumed* to conform to the EAA requirements that standard covers. Conforming to EN 301 549 (where referenced) creates this presumption for ICT.
Follow the official standard and the law assumes you comply unless proven otherwise — a shortcut that saves proving it from scratch.
Article 15(1) of the EAA. The presumption only covers the parts of the EAA requirements that the harmonised standard addresses. Where no harmonised standard yet exists (or covers a given requirement), the operator must demonstrate conformance directly against the directive's functional language.
Why this matters
Presumption of conformity is the working shortcut for compliance. Operators don't have to prove their service meets every functional EAA requirement in the abstract; they can demonstrate conformance with EN 301 549 and rely on the presumption. The presumption is rebuttable — an authority can challenge it with evidence.