The European Commission proposes to introduce a common EU-wide digital identification system. Every citizen of the EU, every resident and every company in the EU is planned to be assigned digital identification number - eID. Most members of parliament and the government of the Netherlands opposed such an innovation, as they consider the risks of data leakage and fraud to be too high.
What is eID?
Every country now uses means of digital authentication individuals and legal entities (the so-called digital signatures), primarily for interaction with government agencies, banks and counterparties. In the Netherlands, this means of digital authentication is DigiD.
The European Commission aims to cover a single online identification system for all EU citizens. eID is an electronic identifier, a unique personal number for use in the online environment of the European Union.
What are the arguments in favor of eID?
According to Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, any citizen anywhere in Europe can use eID for everything from paying taxes to renting a bike. Digital identity technology allows you to control what data is used and how it is used.
What can be done with eID? Examples:
- request a birth certificate
- report a change of address,
- open a bank account,
- file a tax return
- submit documents to the university,
- save a doctor's prescription and get it in another EU country,
- rent a car with a digital driver's license,
- check into a hotel.
That is, we can talk about a kind of European citizen service number.
What is the essence of the objections of the Dutch parliamentarians?
Both members of parliament and representatives of the government of the Netherlands oppose eID. In particular, objections were raised Economy Minister Micky Adriaansens and Secretary of State for Digitalization Alexandra van Huffelen. The focal point for objections in the House of Representatives was faction of the Christian Union Party (ChristenUnie). The final statement with objections was supported by the majority of factions and groups.
What is offered instead of eID?
Instead of a single European digital identification system, the House of Representatives proposes to conclude agreements on the use of each other's identification systems by EU states (in cases where citizens need it). According to the statement of the House of Representatives, the software used for this should never fall into the hands of private individuals.
However, the Netherlands is in the minority with its objections to eID. The ministers promised to convey their position to their colleagues from other EU countries as much as possible until the final decision is made.
Publication Date: 27.06.2022
