European Digital Identity: easy online access to key services
Improved rules for the European Digital Identity - a personal digital wallet for EU citizens - will make it easier for people to access public services and make online transactions.
Since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, more public and private services have become digital. This requires secure and reliable digital identification systems. In February 2024, the European Parliament adopted an update of the European digital identity framework.
Find out more about the digital transformation, one of the EU's priorities.
What is the European Digital Identity?
The European Digital Identity (eID) enables the mutual recognition of national electronic identification schemes across borders. It allows EU citizens to identify and authenticate themselves online without having to resort to commercial providers. It also allows people to access online services from other EU countries using their national electronic identity card.
What are the benefits of the European Digital Identity?
The European Digital Identity can be used for:
- Public services such as requesting birth certificates, medical certificates, reporting a change of address
- Opening a bank account
- Filing tax returns
- Applying for a university in your own country or in another EU country
- Storing a medical prescription that can be used anywhere in Europe
- Proving your age
- Renting a car using a digital driving license
- Checking into a hotel
Improved rules
The 2014 Electronic Identification, Authentication and Trust Services (eIDAS) Regulation required EU countries to establish national schemes for electronic identification that meet certain technical and security standards. These national schemes are then connected allowing people to use their national electronic identity card to access online services in other EU countries.
In 2021, the European Commission put forward a proposal building on the eIDAS framework, aiming to enable at least 80% of people to use a digital identity to access key public services across EU borders by 2030.
Parliament’s position on the proposed update emphasised the importance of ensuring that national systems work with each other, are simple to use and that people have control over their personal data.
In negotiations with the Council about the final legislative text, MEPs pushed to safeguard people’s rights and promote a fair digital landscape, ensuring that those who opt out of participation are not discriminated against.
Parliament approved the provisional agreement with the Council in February 2024.
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