From 2026, EU citizens to have a European digital identity

Brussels – The European digital identity will soon be a reality. Nearly three years after the European Commission’s proposal, the final go-ahead came today (March 26) from the EU Council to establish a digital wallet that is available and recognized in all member states, secure, easy to manage and always under the control of the personal data owner. All this from 2026. “The adoption of the European Digital Identity Regulation is a milestone in the digital transformation of our society,” rejoiced Belgian Secretary of State for Digitization and rotating President of the EU Council, Mathieu Michel, announcing the end of legislative work started June 3, 2021. 

The Regulation aims to ensure that all people and businesses in the European Union have universal access to secure and reliable electronic identification and authentication. Under the terms of the EU legislation—which is now to be published in the Official Journal of the Union and enter into force 20 days later, until full implementation by 2026—member states will have to offer digital wallets that can link national digital identities with proof of other personal attributes (driver’s license, qualifications, bank account, health card), with the ability to prove identity and share electronic documents simply by using a smartphone. The new European digital identity (EDIW) wallets will enable all citizens to access online services with their national digital identification (such as Italy’s SPID), which will be recognized in all other member countries.

The outline of the EU Commission’s proposal on European digital identity has remained, with a strengthening of citizens’ rights, particularly in the case of data protection breaches and the interaction between wallets, including the possibility of using free electronic signatures for non-professional use. By 2026, all 27 countries must make available and recognize the European digital identity wallet. However, its use will remain a free choice of the citizen (with “sufficient safeguards” to avoid discrimination against those who choose not to benefit from it). Regarding issuance, use, and revocation of digital wallets, they will be free of charge for all individuals, and member states will be required to provide (free) validation mechanisms only to verify the authenticity and validity of the wallet and identity. The software components will be open source, although member states are allowed leeway—however to be justified—so that “specific components other than those installed on users’ devices need not be disclosed.”