What is the revised eIDAS Regulation?
The eIDAS Regulation establishes the electronic identification means, electronic signatures and other trust services for electronic transactions. The new eIDAS Regulation entered into force on 20 May 2024. The revision expands the previous eIDAS Regulation and enables the use of European digital identity wallets.
Technical implementing acts supplementing the regulation are currently under preparation and will be adopted in two parts during 2024 and 2025. The first step is to adopt implementing acts on the wallet. EU Member States must provide a digital identity wallet that meets the requirements of the regulation no later than two years after the technical implementing acts have been finalised.
The new eIDAS Regulation is a significant step towards a more integrated and secure digital single market in the EU. The goal is to promote cross-border electronic transactions and increase trust in electronic services.
EU countries to adopt European digital identity wallets
With the revision of the eIDAS Regulation, citizens and residents of EU countries will be able to start using a digital identity wallet that will run as a mobile application. The wallet application will allow individuals to, among other things, identify themselves and to present verified personal data in both public and private services. The user of the wallet will manage their own information and decide whether to share it.
The digital identity wallets will be usable in all EU countries, and they will work the same way in all countries. This has been ensured by using a shared reference architecture, which guarantees cross-border interoperability and trust. High security standards, stronger authentication methods and improved privacy protection will increase trust in electronic transactions.
Each EU country will adopt one or more wallets that can be used throughout the EU.
The new eIDAS Regulation allows the citizens and residents of EU countries to use their digital identity wallet throughout the EU. Use of the wallet will be voluntary for citizens.
The regulation reinforces electronic identification and trust services in the EU, so that public and private electronic services will be easy and safe to use across borders. For example, a citizen can use the wallet application to identify themselves electronically in the public services of any EU country, regardless of the EU country of which they are a citizen or the EU country in which they live.
The regulation aims to reduce the risk of fraud and identity theft, and the processing of data shared via the wallet will be strictly regulated. This is to ensure that use of the wallet is as safe as possible. Safe on-line transactions are promoted, for example, by the fact that services in which the wallet can be used must be registered and controlled.
Citizens will be able to control what information they share via the wallet and with whom they share it. A user can also use their wallet to check the services with which they have shared information that is managed in the wallet. The wallets are subject to certain conditions that protect the user, such as the fact that only the user can monitor the use of their wallet.
The revised eIDAS Regulation aims to make it easier for businesses to operate in the EU single market by providing a coherent framework for electronic identification and trust services. This will reduce the administrative burden and costs associated with compliance.
Businesses will be able to benefit from an increase in trust and more secure electronic services. With increased customer trust, the use of on-line services may become more widespread and commonplace. Facilitating cross-border recognition of digital identities will make it easier for businesses to expand their markets within the EU.
The regulation supports the digital transformation of businesses by providing reliable and secure digital identity solutions that can improve efficiency and streamline operations.
The effects of the revised eIDAS Regulation in brief:
- Interoperable digital identity wallets at EU level.
- Harmonised use of trust services throughout the EU.
- Improved usability and awareness through common procedures.
- Uniform implementation across the EU.
- Simplified procedures and reduced administrative burdens, which facilitates compliance with corporate and government regulations.
- Citizens will have better control over the disclosure of (personal) data
- Only the user can monitor the use of their own wallet.