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The EU is preparing to launch the Digital Wallet. Is Romania ready to adopt it?

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The EU is preparing to launch the Digital Wallet. Is Romania ready to adopt it?

In April, the European Parliament voted in favor of a project aimed at facilitating access to public and private services. The EU is now preparing to introduce the digital wallet, an initiative that will allow citizens to verify their identity much more easily, directly from their mobile phones. The availability of the digital wallet in Romania is still under discussion.

The EU Digital Identity Wallet

Instrument of the EU Digital Identity Wallet

The EU Digital Identity Wallet is designed to provide a convenient and secure method for European citizens and businesses to authenticate their identity using their digital ID. It will be used for interactions in both the public and private sectors. Users will be able to store various digital documents in the wallet, from academic credentials to transport subscriptions, and use them to log into private platforms, such as social networks. This method is more secure and easier to use than managing numerous passwords.

With a single click, citizens can confidently transmit specific information to verified entities, disclosing only the necessary details, such as age or nationality, while refusing to provide additional personal data. This reduces the risk of personal profiling and grants users sovereignty over their personal information, an advantage that cannot be achieved with physical documents.

The EU Digital Identity Wallet will facilitate the exchange of information both in the users’ home country and in other member states.

Pilot Projects

In 2023, the European Union initiated four major pilot programs to evaluate the EU Digital Identity Wallet before its official implementation in member states. These large-scale pilot projects gather feedback on the requirements for the EU Digital Identity Wallet and contribute to developing the common toolbox and ensuring secure implementation.

Wallet Prototype

The European Commission will provide a prototype of the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI), according to the requirements of the European Digital Identity Regulation. The prototype was procured under the Digital Europe program and includes code libraries and a testing application. It serves as a testing ground, allowing for the refinement and validation of the specifications presented in the Architecture and Reference Framework.

A series of large-scale pilot projects covering various sectors, including financial services, education, and transportation, provide valuable insights and feedback on the functionality and usability of the wallet in the real world. The open nature of the EU Digital Identity Wallet ensures public access to verified resources, enabling member states and stakeholders to develop their own digital wallet.

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An initial version of the reference implementation is available on Github, along with the architecture and reference framework.

Large-Scale Pilot Projects

In May 2023, four large-scale pilot projects were launched to test the EU Digital Identity Wallet and ensure its safe and smooth implementation. These pilot projects involve approximately 360 entities, including private companies and public authorities from 26 member states, Norway, Iceland, and Ukraine. Each pilot project is structured as a consortium combining expertise from the public and private sectors within the EU, with co-funding provided through grants from the European Commission. The pilot projects are guided by the technical specifications developed by the eIDAS expert group. These pilot projects are scheduled to continue until 2025.

The pilot projects rigorously test the EU Digital Identity Wallet in a range of common scenarios encountered by Europeans in daily life. They also gather feedback on the reference implementation of the wallet. The insights gained from these tests will be used to improve the security, interoperability, and overall design of the EU Digital Identity Wallet.

The Four Large-Scale Pilot Projects:

  1. EU Digital Identity Wallet Consortium (EWC): A joint effort to leverage the benefits of the EU digital identity through digital travel credentials in member states. The consortium aims to build on the reference wallet application to enable use cases related to digital travel credentials.
  2. Potential: Promotes innovation, collaboration, and growth in six sectors of digital identity: government services, banking, telecommunications, mobile driving licenses, electronic signatures, and healthcare.
  3. NOBID: A set of Nordic and Baltic countries, along with Italy and Germany, will pilot the use of the EU Digital Identity Wallet for authorizing payments for products and services.
  4. DC4EU: Provides concrete support to the public and private sectors in education and social security by implementing and accessing next-generation interoperable digital service infrastructures and integrating them into a cross-border trust framework.

Testing Domains for the Digital Wallet:

  • Access to Government Services: Secure access to digital public services, such as applying for a passport or driver’s license, filing taxes, or accessing social security information.
  • Opening a Bank Account: Verifying a user’s identity when opening an online bank account, eliminating the need for repeated provision of personal information.
  • SIM Card Registration: Proving identity for prepaid and postpaid SIM card contracts, reducing fraud and costs for mobile network operators.
  • Mobile Driving License: Storing and presenting the mobile driving license for both online and physical interactions.
  • Signing Contracts: Creating secure digital signatures for signing contracts online, eliminating the need for paper documents and physical signatures.
  • Prescriptions: Providing prescription details to pharmacies and initiating the dispensing of medical products.
  • Travel: Presenting information from travel documents, such as passports and visas, for quick and easy access through airport security and customs.
  • Organizational Digital Identity: Verifying that you are a legitimate representative of an organization.
  • Payments: Verifying a user’s identity when initiating an online payment.
  • Education Certification: Proving possession of educational credentials, such as diplomas and certificates, facilitating job applications or further studies.
  • Access to Social Security Benefits: Secure access to a user’s social security information and benefits, such as pensions and disability benefits, facilitating free movement by storing documents like the European Health Insurance Card.
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What is a Digital Wallet?

A digital wallet, also known as an electronic wallet, is an application or digital system that allows users to store, manage, and use identification information and payment methods electronically.

In other words, an electronic wallet is a software program, an online service, or an electronic device that stores users’ payment data and processes payments. Unlike traditional leather wallets, a digital wallet can also store other essential information, such as passwords, identification documents, educational credentials, vouchers, and tickets. It offers users the convenience of making transactions and accessing various services in a secure and easy-to-manage manner.

Advantages of a Digital Wallet:

  • Convenience:
    • Eliminates the need to carry physical documents and cash.
    • Allows quick and easy access to stored information.
  • Security:
    • Provides advanced security measures to protect user data.
    • Reduces the risk of identity theft and fraud.
  • Efficiency:
    • Simplifies authentication and payment processes.
    • Enables centralized management of various documents and payment methods.
  • Control Over Personal Data:
    • Users can choose what information to share and with whom.
    • Protects user privacy and confidentiality.

Digital Wallet in Romania: Optional and Innovative

In the context where digitalization is still a theoretical concept in Romania, and many Romanians do not trust this application or are unaware of its existence, MEP Alin Mituța explains that the use of the digital wallet in the EU is not mandatory.

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“It’s absolutely optional. There will still be the possibility to go to the counter if you feel more comfortable going to the counter and standing in line, that is still possible, but for those who want to have an easier life and trust this technology, they will have the possibility to access all state public services directly on the phone. And I think it’s a major advancement for us as a society because we will practically eliminate queues at counters,” Alin Mituța said on Antena 3 CNN.

The digital wallet works similarly to apps for digital bank cards or loyalty cards installed on the phone, allowing users to correctly authenticate in interactions with authorities and beyond, using only their phone.

Availability of the Digital Wallet in Romania

In Romania, the digital wallet could be available as early as 2026, and its use will not be mandatory.

“It’s something that has haunted us in Romania for a very long time: endless queues, perhaps also the treatment we receive at counters. But now things will be simple. We will be able to access any kind of document directly, remotely, on the phone,” said Alin Mituța, MEP, on Saturday at Be EU.

Although he considers its introduction as “a major advancement for us as a society,” he emphasizes that European citizens have the freedom to choose whether or not to use the digital wallet.

Conclusion

The digital wallet represents a significant step towards modernizing and simplifying financial and administrative interactions. It offers users a convenient and secure way to store and manage payment information, personal documents, and other important data. With its clear advantages in terms of efficiency, security, and control over personal data, the digital wallet has the potential to transform how we access and use public and private services. In an increasingly digital world, the adoption of digital wallets can significantly reduce bureaucracy and improve the user experience in various aspects of daily life.


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