Proposal for a Regulation amending Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as regards establishing a framework for a European Digital Identity

Summary:

Legislative initiative tabled by the European Commission on 3 June 2021, introducing amendments to Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 to address the establishment of a framework for a European Digital Identity.

Further information:

Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 - also known as the Electronic Identification and Trust Services (eIDAS) Regulation - created a new system for secure electronic interactions across the European Union (EU) between businesses, citizens and public authorities. Since then, a new market environment emerged where the focus shifted from the provision and use of rigid digital identities to the provision and reliance on specific attributes related to those identities.

An assessment on the functioning of the eIDAS Regulation revealed that it fell short of addressing those new market demands. The European Digital Identity - based on the revision of the existing one - is aimed at improving the percentage of EU citizens able to use a digital ID solution to access key public services by 2030. Citizens and residents should also have full confidence on the framework offering the means to control access to their digital twin and data. This also requires a high level of security when it comes to digital identity provisioning - including the issuing of a European Digital Identity Wallet - and the infrastructure for the collection, storage and disclosure of digital identity data.

This initiative was tabled by the European Commission on 3 June 2021, in the framework of its Digital Compass strategy. It was accompanied by a Recommendation inviting Member States to establish a common toolbox aimed at launching preparatory work immediately.

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News

Politico, 03/06/2021: The EU has introduced a new ‘digital’ ID. Here’s what it means for you. https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-europe-digital-id/

Tech Crunch, 03/06/2021: Europe wants to go its own way on digital identity https://techcrunch.com/2021/06/03/europe-wants-to-go-its-own-way-on-digital-identity/

Euronews, 03/06/2021: Brussels puts forward plan to create new EU-wide digital identity https://www.euronews.com/2021/06/03/eu-puts-forward-plans-for-new-bloc-wide-digital-id

Deutsche Welle, 03/06/2021: EU unveils plan for new digital ID wallet https://p.dw.com/p/3uOOP

Associated Press, 03/06/2021: EU plans digital ID wallet for bloc’s post-pandemic life https://apnews.com/article/europe-health-coronavirus-pandemic-lifestyle-travel-73f90d18909c595da463994e16e17348

Reuters, 03/06/2021: EU launches digital identity wallet driven by pandemic, digital push https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-launches-digital-identity-wallet-driven-by-pandemic-digital-push-2021-06-03/

EUObserver, 04/06/2021: First glimpse of EU's new 'digital identity wallet' https://euobserver.com/news/152042

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Official

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)124: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:124:FIN

EUR-LEX: SWD(2021)125: Staff Working Document accompanying the Proposal - Executive Summary of the Impact Assessment Report https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=SWD:2021:125:FIN

European Commission: Digital Strategy: eIDAS Regulation https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/eidas-regulation

European Commission: Press Release, 03/06/2021: Commission proposes a trusted and secure Digital Identity for all Europeans https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_2663

European Commission: Commission proposes trusted and secure Digital Identity for all Europeans - Questions and Answers (3 June 2021) https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_21_2664

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