MEPs PAVE THE WAY TOWARDS AN INTEROPERABLE AND SECURE ENVIRONMENT FOR eIDAS
Eurosmart welcomes the adoption of the Regulation on electronic identification and trust services Regulation (eIDAS) by the European Parliament
April 4th 2014, Brussels
Yesterday, the Members of the European Parliament largely adopted (534 votes in favour, 73 votes against, 7 abstentions) the proposed Regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market, so-called ‘eIDAS Regulation’. Eurosmart’s Chairman Oyvind Rastad welcomes this vote as a crucial step towards the removal of existing barriers to Europe’s digital development on the way to the single market, while ensuring the privacy and security of users:
“By endorsing the compromise found with the Council of the EU, Members of the European Parliament allow the implementation of an interoperable and secure environment for electronic identification and trust services in Europe, in due respect of European data protection rules. The eIDAS Regulation is a major pillar of the Digital Agenda, supported by the Heads of States and Governments during the last European Council. The Smart Security industry is pleased to see its adoption before the new electoral term, allowing a quick entry into force. With principles such as privacy-by-design, the Regulation will boost trust in electronic transactions, at a time when end users feel more and more threatened by attacks and fraud attempts. The need to show an equal or higher assurance level to allow mutual recognition of an electronic identification means from one Member State to another will also ensure a high level of security throughout Europe.
Eurosmart particularly welcomes the requirement for a mandatory certification of qualified electronic signature creation devices, by appropriate public or private bodies. We are convinced that only the appropriate certification scheme will allow a stronger level of security for the electronic signature and ensure the necessary trust for its full use.”
Eurosmart is now awaiting for the final approval of the Council of Ministers, before the formal entry into force of the Regulation. Eurosmart members will then be at the disposal of the Member States and European Commission to provide technical expertise on the security requirements laid down in the Regulation. In 2014, French and German IT security agencies ANSSI and BSI, supported by a large panel of European companies, jointly issued specifications on an eIDAS token, aimed at providing a concrete solution towards pan-European interoperability, in line with existing electronic identification infrastructures already deployed, while ensuring the highest possible level of security and privacy for users’ data. Eurosmart calls for the endorsement by the European Commission of these specifications and will push for their full promotion in the EU.
About Eurosmart
Eurosmart is an international non-profit association located in Brussels and representing the Smart Security Industry for multisector applications. Founded in 1995, the association is committed to expanding the world’s Smart Secure Devices market, developing Smart Security standards and continuously improving the quality of security applications.
Members are manufacturers of smart cards, semiconductors, terminals, equipment for smart cards system integrators, application developers and issuers who work in dedicated working groups (security, electronic identity, communication, marketing).
Members are largely involved in research and development projects at the European and international levels.
Eurosmart members are companies (Austria Card, EM Electronic Marin, FNMT-RCM, Gemalto, Giesecke & Devrient, Infineon Technologies, Inside Secure, LFoundry, Morpho, Microsoft, NedCard, NXP Semiconductors, Oberthur Technologies, Samsung, STMicroelectronics, Toshiba), payment systems (Mastercard), laboratories (CEALETI), research organisations (Fraunhofer AISEC), associations (Smart Payment Association, Mobismart, Danish Biometrics) and independent experts (Michel Koenig, Jonas Andersson).
Eurosmart is acknowledged as representing “the Voice of the Smart Security Industry”.
For more information, please visit www.eurosmart.com
