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Hungary joins the European Blockchain Partnership

On 18 February 2019, Hungary became the 29th country to sign the Declaration creating a European Blockchain Partnership. The declaration was signed by Mr László György, Minister of State for Economic Strategy and Regulation, Ministry for Innovation and Technology, in the presence of Claire Bury, Deputy Director-General for the European Commission’s Directorate-General Communications Networks, Content and Technology (CNECT).

Hungary signs the Declaration creating European Blockchain Partnership

Hungary signs the Declaration creating European Blockchain Partnership

Claire Bury welcomed the signature:

Blockchain is becoming mainstream across many sectors. The public sector is no exception, and we must ensure that this exciting technology can also support better cross-border digital public services offered to our citizens and businesses.

We are delighted that Hungary is joining the European Blockchain Partnership and will work together with us in the development of a European Blockchain Services Infrastructure for public services. The Digital Single Market creates the right conditions and infrastructure for a functioning digital Europe also in public services.

The European Blockchain Partnership (EBP) was created on 10 April 2018 through a joint declaration agreed between 21 Member States and Norway. The signatories have also agreed to cooperate in the establishment of a European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI) that will support the delivery of cross-border digital public services, with the highest standards of security and privacy. Since then seven other countries have joined the Partnership, most recently Liechtenstein. All members of the Partnership have pledged to help overcome obstacles for spreading the use of innovative digital solutions across the Union and beyond.

EBSI at the heart of a new generation of public services

According to the declaration, the European Blockchain Partnership identifies cross-border digital public sector services that could be deployed through a common European Blockchain Services Infrastructure, with a shared governance model. The implementation of EBSI for an initial set of cross-border digital public services will start in 2019, supported through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Telecom). These services include EU customs and tax data, audit documents by EU-funded projects, cross-border certification of diplomas and qualifications, and a European self-sovereign identity initiative building on eIDAS.

Digital public services will increasingly use blockchain and distributed ledger technology. Blockchain is a great opportunity for Europe and Member States to rethink their information systems, to promote user trust and the protection of personal data, to help create new business opportunities and to establish new areas of leadership, benefiting citizens, public services and companies. The Partnership launched in April 2018 enables its members to work together with the European Commission to turn the enormous potential of blockchain technology into better services for citizens.

Some research projects on blockchain financed by the EU:

  • DECODE  - blockchain for privacy
  • MHDMD - blockchain for eHealth

Related documents

Declaration on the European Partnership on Blockchain

For more information

EU Actions on blockchain

EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum