Europe’s Digital ID Shift with eIDAS 2.0

Europe is on the cusp of a digital identity revolution with eIDAS 2.0 regulation transforming how digital identity is approached, implemented, and experienced across the EU. Below are the key trends shaping this transformation and what they mean for the future of digital identity.

The eIDAS 2.0 development represents the most comprehensive digital identity framework in the world, affecting all 27 EU member states and approximately 450 million citizens. Unlike its predecessor, eIDAS 2.0 mandates that all member states provide citizens with digital wallets by 2026, creating a unified digital identity ecosystem across the entire European Union.

This isn't merely a technological upgrade—it's a fundamental shift in how Europeans will identify themselves, access services, and conduct transactions online. Some key facts:

• All EU citizens and businesses will have the right to a European Digital Identity Wallet
• At least 80% of citizens must be able to use digital ID for public services by 2030
• The regulation applies to private sectors as well, with major online platforms required to accept these wallets
• Cross-border functionality is mandated, allowing citizens to use their digital ID throughout the EU

With implementation deadlines approaching quickly, both public and private organizations must understand and adapt to this new reality that will fundamentally reshape Europe's digital landscape.

The Head Start Advantage

Countries with established digital identity systems like Estonia (universal digital identity), Italy (35 million SPID identities), Denmark (75 million monthly MitID authentications), and Sweden (8 million BankID users) have a clear advantage in meeting eIDAS 2.0 goals. While late adopters may experience some "leapfrog effect" — similar to how some nations skipped landlines and moved directly to mobile phones — by implementing newer technologies without legacy constraints (Cyprus is already building directly to eIDAS 2.0 standards), established leaders still maintain their edge through experience and infrastructure maturity.

Mobile-First Is Now Mandatory

While chip-based passports and national ID cards will remain in circulation for some time, the trajectory clearly points toward their eventual replacement by fully digital card-based solutions. Early adopters like Belgium and Estonia pioneered smartphone-based IDs years ago, while others like Cyprus and Croatia are delivering mobile apps largely in response to eIDAS 2.0 requirements. Success increasingly depends on convenience and usability without compromising security.

Cross-Border Solutions Leading the Way

Multi-member-state private solutions are emerging as leaders:

• Smart-ID (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania)
• itsme (Belgium, expanding to France and Luxembourg)
• MitID (looking beyond Denmark)
• These ecosystems are positioned to offer the first ready-to-go cross-border solutions within the eIDAS 2.0 framework.

While early adoption appears somewhat fragmented, formal cross-Eurozone consortiums are emerging to ease implementation burdens. The WE BUILD consortium, led by Dutch and Swedish government authorities (Ministry of Economic Affairs and Bolagsverket), represents nearly 200 partners across public and private sectors. Selected by the European Commission for the second round of Large Scale Pilots for the EU Digital Identity Wallet, WE BUILD is developing 13 use cases focused on business and payment scenarios that will demonstrate how organizational wallets can streamline KYC processes and B2B/B2G interactions. Such large-scale collaborations are accelerating the path toward a truly interoperable European digital identity ecosystem.

Protocol Divergence Versus Model Convergence

A notable gap exists between currently deployed protocols and those recommended in the Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF) - the EU's technical blueprint for how interoperable digital identity wallets should function across different EU member states. Member states currently rely on established standards like OIDC/SAML, while ARF-emphasized standards such as OpenID4VP and ISO 18013 are still emerging and in some cases not yet finalized. Nevertheless, Europe is converging on a common model: mobile, fully digital, multi-purpose identity systems supporting multiple credential types. Estonia is incrementally adapting its pioneering system, Germany is redesigning with the FUNKE program, and Cyprus is leapfrogging directly to an eIDAS 2-aligned solution.

What This Means For Integration

Organizations looking to integrate with Europe's evolving digital identity landscape should:

• Focus on OIDC/SAML compatibility
• Develop modular adapters for country-specific APIs
• Monitor EUDI wallet developments
• Partner with trusted intermediaries
• Support diverse assurance levels
• Prioritize user experience

The Road Ahead

The success of digital identity systems will increasingly depend on user experience and private sector integration. The next few years will transform digital identity for Europe's 450 million citizens as these systems mature and interconnect.

At Civic, we're watching these developments closely as they shape the future of digital identity verification worldwide. The lessons from Europe's eIDAS 2.0 implementation will influence global standards for years to come.

Interested in learning more about how Civic is helping shape the future of digital identity? Contact our team to discuss how our solutions can help your organization navigate the evolving digital identity landscape.