The move also seeks to counter privacy and data protection
concerns related to digital wallets offered by Apple, Alphabet unit Google,
Thales and financial institutions.
The digital wallet will allow Europeans to digitally
identify themselves when accessing public and private services such as
accessing a bank account, applying for a loan, submitting tax declarations and
enrolling in a university.
"The European digital identity will enable us to do in
any member state as we do at home without any extra cost and fewer
hurdles," EU tech chief Margrethe Vestager said.
"EU citizens not only expect a high level of security
but also convenience whether they are dealing with national administrations
such as to submit a tax return or to enrol at a European university where they
need official identification," EU industry chief Thierry Breton said.
The adoption of an electronic wallet could generate as much
as 9.6 billion euros ($11.7 billion) in benefits for the EU and create as many
as 27,000 jobs over a five-year period, the EU document said, confirming a
Reuters story on June 1.
By reducing emissions related to public services, the
e-wallet could also have a positive environmental impact, the Commission said.
The digital identity wallet will not be not obligatory for Europeans.
EU countries have until Sept. 22 to set out the technical
architecture, standards and guidelines for best practices for using the digital
identity wallet.
Currently 14 EU countries have national schemes of
electronic identity.
-Reuters
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