Published 11.06.2021
On 3 June, the European Commission proposed a framework for a European Digital Identity which will be available to all EU citizens, residents, and businesses in the EU. The Commission builds on the existing cross-border legal framework for trusted digital identities, the European electronic identification and trust services initiative (eIDAS Regulation). Adopted in 2014, it provides the basis for cross-border electronic identification, authentication and website certification within the EU.
However, in the 2014 framework, there is no requirement for Member States to develop a national digital ID and to make it interoperable with the ones of other Member States, which leads to high discrepancies between countries. The new proposal addresses these shortcomings by improving the effectiveness of the framework and extending its scope to the private sector and to mobile use.
The aim of the EU digital ID scheme is to:
- make it safer and easier to use online services anywhere in Europe, for example when opening a bank account
- give people more control over their personal data and privacy while respecting user anonymity.
This proposal will now be discussed in the European Parliament and the Council. In the meantime, in order to advance swiftly of this project, the Commission has invited Member States to establish a common toolbox by September 2022 and to start the necessary preparatory work immediately. This toolbox should include the technical architecture, standards and guidelines for best practices.
The ABBL is following closely these developments and participating in discussions in various fora, as banks can play a role in this framework.
By Aurélie Cassou
Senior Adviser - European Affairs
Aurélie Cassou holds degrees in French and English law from the Sorbonne-Paris I and King's College London. She also holds a Master's degree in European law from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid.
Aurélie joined the ABBL in 2011 in the Brussels office as part of the European Affairs team. She specialises in advocacy on financial markets, retail products, sustainable finance and digital issues. Aurélie has professional experience with consulting firms in European affairs.