What is the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet and when will it be released?

15 March 2024

It is also referred to as the “European Digital Identity,” and it represents the next evolution of digital identity

The European Digital Identity Wallet will allow all EU citizens to access a recognition system valid throughout Europe and will be available in 2026.

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According to data from the Digital Identity Observatory of the Politecnico di Milano*, the rapid spread of digital identities since 2020 has not been limited to Italy. In 2021, the percentage of digital IDs present in the population increased (in some cases doubled) in every European country, reaching nearly total coverage in the most advanced states such as the Netherlands, Sweden, and Norway.

Therefore, in June 2021, the European Commission proposed a revision of the eIDAS regulation (also known as “eIDAS 2.0”), presenting it alongside a recommendation document for the creation of a European Digital Identity Wallet, which by 2026 will allow all EU citizens to use their digital identity in all member states.

Let’s see what the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet is, why it is important, and the current status of the legislative process.

What is the EUDI Wallet

The EUDI Wallet is, indeed, a digital identity (similar to SPID) that will be valid throughout Europe. The biggest and most important difference from the more well-known SPID will be its structure: it is not just a digital identity as we know it today, but a “wallet” where so-called “verifiable attributes”—whether qualified or not (such as passport details, birth certificate, driving license, electoral card)—will be collected, allowing for a broader digitalization of documents usually held by the citizen.

Secondly, there is the mandatory aspect: with the eIDAS revision, member states will be required to accept digital identities and EUDI Wallets from other countries. Finally, there will be a community-wide definition of who and how many wallet providers there will be, who will likely need to offer a common interface for all users for authentication and service access.

Thanks to the European Digital Identity Wallet, it will be possible not only to access public services with your digital identity in any EU country but also to open a bank account, rent a car, prove your age, or access public services.

When will the EUDI Wallet be released?

Following the announcement in June 2021, the first phase of the pilot project was launched in 2022 with the goal of rolling out the European Digital Identity Wallet in 2024, a target later moved to 2026. In 2023, during the trilogue phase, which involves interinstitutional negotiations with representatives from the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission, the so-called “Large Scale Pilots” were initiated. These pilot projects explore various use cases for the EUDI Wallet and are conducted by international consortia, including the POTENTIAL Consortium, of which Intesa is a part. The consortia’s work will conclude at the end of 2025, just before the release of national EUDI Wallets.

On November 8, 2023, the negotiation phase (trilogue) ended with the announcement of the agreement on the final text of the eIDAS revision, which was approved on February 29, 2024, and subsequently published in the Official Journal on April 30 of the same year.

The next step is the Implementing Acts, which will outline the technical specifications for the implementation of the EUDI Wallet, with the first and most anticipated release expected by November 21, 2024.

In short, the European digital identity is likely to be in citizens’ hands by 2026.

Why the EUDI Wallet is important

Firstly, the EUDI Wallet is another significant step towards the goals set by the “Digital Decade 2030” program, the “strategic program for the digital decade that sets milestones and objectives for 2030,” including the digitalization of all public services in Europe and the creation of the European digital single market. Up to now, the digital identity landscape has been highly diverse, fragmented, and not very interoperable.

Secondly, the EUDI Wallet will improve privacy and personal data protection for citizens because the “wallet” model closely resembles the Self Sovereign Identity approach. This type of digital identity, based on blockchain technology, gives users complete control over their identity and the information they choose to share.

* Digital Identity Observatory, Report 2021