Electronic Identification

Electronic identification (eID) is a pivotal element in ensuring the safety and security of digital transactions. It serves as a digital proof of identity, allowing individuals to access online services, conduct electronic transactions, and interact with government platforms with a higher level of trust. An eID system verifies a person’s identity, ensuring that services are delivered to the rightful individual, particularly in sensitive areas like banking. The challenge lies in creating a system that functions seamlessly across borders and industries. 

Prior to 2014, the lack of a common legal basis has prevented Member States from recognising and accepting electronic identification schemes issued in other Member States. The insufficient cross-border interoperability of national schemes also has prevented citizens and businesses from benefitting fully from a digital EU. The Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services (eIDAS) Regulation, introduced in 2014, enabled the use of national eIDs for online public services across EU borders. The eIDAS regulation, which provides the basis for cross-border electronic identification, authentication and website certification within the EU, was is a milestone towards creating a predictable regulatory environment. By now more than 90% of Europeans can benefit from the current system. The Commission also maintains and provides a number of open and reusable digital solutions that ensure full interoperability of identity related digital services (eDelivery, eSignature, eID). However, take up is low, its use is cumbersome and business cases, especially in the private sector, are limited. As digital services expanded and privacy concerns grew, it became evident that the regulation needed an update to keep pace with the evolving digital environment and emerging privacy threats.

Responding to these changes, the European Commission in 2021 suggested amendments to the 2014 eIDAS Regulation. The EU Digital Identity Wallet, introduced by the 2024 European Digital Identity regulation emphasizes the right of individuals to maintain control over their digital identities. The EU Digital Identity Wallet is a tool to empower citizens to manage their digital identities securely and privately as they traverse the EU, aligning with the EU’s digital rights declaration and aiming to achieve the Digital Decade Policy Programme’s objective of universal Digital ID access by 2030.

The European Parliament, on February 29, 2024, voted in favour of the new regulation, with the majority supporting the update. The next step is the formal approval by the EU Council of Ministers for it to be enacted into law.

The Commission set out a number of targets and milestones for electronic identification in its Communication 2030 Digital Compass: The European Way for the Digital Decade (pdf). For example, by 2030, all key public services should be available online, all citizens will have access to electronic medical records, and 100% of citizens will have access to secure electronic identification meaning that they are recognised throughout the Union, enabling them to have full control over identity transactions and shared personal data. Already, the digital Wallet Prototype pilot implementation is enabling the development, implementation and scale-up of the European Digital Identity framework. The aim is to obtain a set of technical references, standards, components and solutions including an application so the EU Digital Identity Wallet can be made available to Member States.