To provide all Europeans with a trusted and secure digital identity, the Council Presidency and representatives of the European Parliament have reached a provisional agreement on a new European Digital Identity (eID) framework, we read on the European Council website
In June 2021, the Commission proposed a European Digital Identity framework that would be accessible to all EU citizens, residents and businesses through the European Digital Identity Wallet.
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The proposed new framework amends the 2014 Regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS Regulation), which laid the foundations for secure access to public services and transacting online and cross-border within the EU.
– By approving the European Digital Identity Regulation, we are taking an essential step to ensure that citizens can have a unique and secure European digital identity. This is key progress that will enable the European Union to become a global digital reference, protecting our democratic rights and values - Nadia Calviño, Acting First Vice-President of Spain and Minister of Economy and Digital Affairs
European Digital Identity Wallet
The revised Regulation represents a clear paradigm shift for digital identity in Europe, aiming to ensure that citizens and businesses have universal access to a secure and secure trustworthy electronic identification and authentication.
According to the new law Member States offer citizens and businesses digital wallets that can link their national digital identity with documents proving other personal characteristics (e.g. driving license, diplomas, Bank account). Citizens will be able to confirm their identity and share electronic documents from their digital wallets with a single click of a button mobile phone.
The new European digital identity wallets will enable all Europeans to access online services using their national digital ID, which will be recognized across Europe, without the need for private method identifying or sharing personal data unnecessarily. User control ensures that only information that needs to be shared is shared.
Conclusion of a preliminary interim agreement
Since preliminary provisional agreement on the matter some of the main elements of the legislative proposal, a series of detailed technical meetings took place at the end of June this year to develop the text, allowing the dossier to be fully finalized. These are some of the important aspects agreed by the co-legislators today:
- electronic signatures: using the wallet will be the default free for people physical assets, but Member States may provide for measures to ensure that its free use is limited to non-professional purposes
- wallet business model: issuance, use and withdrawal will be free for all individuals
- validation of electronic attribute certification: Member States will provide free validation mechanisms solely to check the authenticity and validity of the wallet and the identity of the relying parties
- code wallets: the software components of the application will be open source, but Member States will be given the necessary freedom to make any reasonable decisions reasons they couldn't certain components other than those installed on users' devices may be disclosed
- consistency is ensured between the wallet as a means of electronic identification and the system constituting the basis for its issuance
The amended law clarifies the scope of qualified web authentication certificates (QWACs), which provide users with the ability to verify who is behind a website while maintaining current industry-established security policies and standards.
Next steps
Technical work will continue to complete the legal text in accordance with temporary agreement. Once finalized, the text will be submitted to the representatives of the Member States for approval. Subject to a legal and linguistic review, the amended regulation will need to be formally adopted by Parliament and the Council before it can be published in the EU's Official Journal and enter into force.
The European Digital Identity can be used both online and offline, for public and private services across the EU.
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Source: European Council
Photo: Nadia María CALVIÑO SANTAMARÍA/European Union
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