In our recent discussion with Viky Manaila (Trust Services Director at the Intesi Group) and Vedran Lalic (Digital Identity Consultant at the World Bank), we explored how eIDAS 2.0 is set to transform digital identity across Europe.
From seamless onboarding to frictionless travel, the impact is huge. But who stands to benefit the most? And what hurdles still need to be overcome?
Let’s dive in.
🥇 The Big Winners: Who Benefits from eIDAS 2.0?
eIDAS 2.0 impacts everyone—from governments to businesses to regular citizens. But some industries are in for a major upgrade:
- Financial Services: KYC that doesn’t take forever, reduced fraud, and instant onboarding. Imagine a world where verifying customers is fast, secure, and compliant.
- Travel & Transportation: No more juggling boarding passes, IDs, and tickets. With digital ID wallets, it’s all in one place—frictionless travel from booking to boarding.
- Public Services: Citizens can verify their identity online for healthcare, tax filings, and social security. Governments will deliver better and more efficient services to citizens, reducing bureaucracy and increasing trust in public administration.
- Customs & Border Control: Faster, more secure customs clearance for businesses and travelers. EU Digital Identity wallets will store company certificates, invoices, and attestations, making cross-border trade seamless and efficient.
- Online Services: Faster checkout and reduced fraud.
🧗🏻♀️ The Hurdles: What Still Needs to Be Overcome?
While the opportunities are huge, eIDAS 2.0 isn't without its challenges. Here’s what our experts flagged:
- Fragmented Implementation Across Member States: Different countries are moving at different speeds. Some nations, like Estonia, are digital ID pioneers, while others are just starting out. Achieving interoperability across borders will be key.
- Complex Compliance and Technical Requirements: eIDAS 2.0 introduces new technical standards that businesses must meet. From ensuring privacy-by-design to complying with strict penalties for data mishandling, organizations face a steep learning curve.
- User Adoption and Trust: Citizens need to feel confident that their data is secure. Privacy concerns and a lack of trust could slow adoption, especially if governments and businesses don’t communicate the benefits clearly.
- Legacy Systems in Larger Countries: Countries like Germany and France are struggling to integrate eIDAS 2.0 due to outdated legacy IT systems. Modernizing infrastructure will be critical to successful adoption.
🖼️ Why This Matters: The Bigger Picture
For citizens, eIDAS 2.0 means control over personal data.
For businesses, it’s a chance to build trust and efficiency. Verifiable credentials reduce fraud, speed up onboarding, and streamline operations.
And for governments, it’s about delivering better services while cutting down on inefficiencies.
Bottom line: eIDAS 2.0 is more than just compliance—it’s a goldmine of opportunities.
The question isn’t whether it will impact your industry. It’s how fast you’ll move to seize the benefits.
Learn more about how decentralized identity works.
