Electronic Identification and Trust Services (Regulation)

The Commission wishes to enhance trust in electronic transactions in the internal market. To this end, it proposes a Regulation designed to extend the provisions of the existing Electronic Signature Directive (1999/93/EC) and to complement electronic identification and additional trust services.

cepPolicyBrief

In its analysis the cep concludes that the cross-border recognition and acceptance of means of electronic identification can help reduce administrative and transaction costs. The waiver of a test to establish whether or not the identification schemes comply with the requirements of the Regulation and minimum security standards facilitates abuse and jeopardises the security of personal data. The supervisory rules for providers of particularly sensitive “qualified trust services” are imprecise and inconsistent. The provisions on the security of electronic signatures improve interoperability, which facilitates cross-border activities.