A unified European digital identity is approaching

Initial political agreement between the European Council and the European Parliament on the European Digital Identity Wallet

Another step towards the adoption, even by 2027, of the European Digital Identity (eID) has been taken in the European Council and European Parliament. The two sides have reached a preliminary political agreement on the key components of an eID, which will allow EU citizens and companies to access trusted electronic identification of their details through a so-called “personal digital wallet” stored on a smartphone.

This was the first political meeting held between the two sides since last March when the European Parliament decided by 418 votes in favor, 103 against and 24 abstentions to start negotiations with EU member states to revise the relevant framework for creating a “European Digital Identity Wallet.”, also known in European circles as “European Digital Identity Wallet” or “EUDI Wallet”, or European Digital Identity.

What is a personal digital wallet?

The European Digital Identity is designed to provide the legal framework for the creation of a chain of national digital wallets in the countries of Europe. These digital wallets will be able to connect with each other across the European Union so that citizens can access through them all the personal documents that are important to them, such as driver’s licenses, health records, birth certificates or professional certificates.

The main goal of the European Union is that with the creation of this European digital wallet, the European Union does not depend on the personal identification systems that are currently being promoted by big technology companies (Big Tech) such as Google, Apple, Amazon and Facebook. In this way, the EU wants to be able to not rely on Big Tech to obtain the personal data of its citizens.

Under the new eID framework, the goal is also for citizens to retain “full control,” as the EU has promised at least, over their data and be able to “decide for themselves what information they want to share and with whom.”

Adoption from 2027, 80% EU access by 2030

Now after the new step, efforts are being made to adopt such a digital system from 2027 and by 2030 they can reach 80% of the population of the European Union. Under discussion are arrangements on how to seamlessly and securely access this European digital wallet with European Digital ID and senior citizens or citizens who are not tech-savvy and smart mobile phones.

As announced by the European Parliament early Thursday after consultations, one of the key policy-making objectives of the revised eID regulations is to provide citizens with a harmonized European means of digital identity based on the concept of a digital identity wallet as defined by national laws..

As a means of electronic identification (“eID”) issued under national regulations, the wallet will be an electronic identification method in its own right. She added that the text of the interim agreement develops the concept of the wallet and its interaction with the national means of electronic identification.

What are the next steps

Technical processes will now continue to finalize the legal text, in line with today’s political agreement. Upon completion, the text will be submitted to representatives of member states for approval. Subject to legal/linguistic revision, the revised regulation will then need to be formally approved by the European Parliament and the European Council before being published in the Official Journal of the European Union and entering into force.

The new rules entail changes to existing European digital identities, and now provide a common technical architecture, framework of reference and common standards to be developed with member states. The aim is to enable users to rely on an improved system of electronic identity services, recognized and accepted everywhere in the European Union.

Insurance

The revised regulations provide a coordinated approach to security for citizens who will rely on the European Digital Identity and also for online service providers who will be able to fully rely on and accept digital identity solutions regardless of where they are issued, as promised by the European Parliament.

Amended bylaws should leverage the use of, build upon, and enforce relevant existing cybersecurity certification systems to certify portfolio compliance with applicable cybersecurity requirements. In order to align the revised eID Regulation with existing cybersecurity legislation as closely as possible, Member States will designate authorized public and private bodies to certify the wallet, as provided by the Cybersecurity Act.

source extra time