Accelerate the take-up of eIDAS services, including eID and eSignature

Potential of action

Using electronic identification (eID) and trust services enables online transactions, saves time and reduces costs for all actors involved. Prior to the eIDAS Regulation, a major barrier for the deployment of cross-border services was the lack of predictory regulatory environment for the cross-border recognition of eID and trust services. The eGovernment Benchmark 2016 insight report illustrates that it is possible to use an eID in 3 out of every 5 public services. Pre-filling of online application forms can be enabled through online authentication of users, for instance through eID. This allows the service provider to recognise the user and re-use available data on that user in the service process. It could reduce required information in the application and/or pre-fill required fields for the user to check on correctness. The 9th Benchmark Measurement on digitising public services in Europe identified 25 services (14 citizen and 11 business) that would or could require cross border recognition of a formal eID at one or more instances. At the end of 2012, 14.1 million EU citizens were residing in another Member State (2.8 % of the total population), many of them potential beneficiaries from cross border eID usage[1].

Broader societal benefits can arise from increased trust in electronic transactions, which are secure, seamless and convenient, as well as prevention of fraud. Surveys have consistently reported that a lack of confidence and trust in electronic systems is a barrier to enabling citizens and businesses to benefit from the services in the digital world. At a European level, the cost of this failure is expected to be at least 4.1 per cent of GDP between 2012 and 2020. Identity fraud, extrapolated across the EU, could amount to a total cost of over EUR 26 billion. Both these costs could be saved by enabling the use of cross-border eID[2].

Description of action

The Commission will accelerate the cross-border uptake of the eID means and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS services) both by the public and private sector.

Priority actions to accelerate the cross-border and cross-sector use of electronic identification (eID), including mobile ID, and trust services (in particular eSignature, website authentication and online registered delivery service) will be pursued in digitally enabled businesses (such as banking, finance, eCommerce and sharing economy) and in the public sector namely on the European e-Justice Portal. In this regard, the Commission will also explore the need to facilitate the usage of remote identification and secure authentication in the retail financial services. Another priority action will be to work with Member States to move towards an API ecosystem and economy that will allow private providers to offer value added/integrated services/Apps to citizens and businesses based on explicit mandate to use their data in the hands of public sector authorities.

The Commission will also gradually introduce the 'digital by default' principle when interacting online with external stakeholders, in particular by using eIDAS services, as well as eInvoicing and eProcurement.

Main responsible at the European Commission: DG CONNECT

Target date: 2016

Status: Completed. The initiative, as proposed by the Commission in the Action Plan, has been achieved. This does not however, mean that the action is fully implemented across the EU.

More info (website):https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/trust-services-and-eid

[1]COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS "Free movement of EU citizens and their families: Five actions to make a difference"

[2] Study on "The feasibility and scenarios for the long-term sustainability of the Large Scale Pilots, including 'ex-ante' evaluation" (SMART 2012/0059)