🎧 The EUDI Wallet isn’t a coincidence – it’s the result of years of regulatory development. In Episode 121 of Alles Legal – Fintech-Recht kompakt, Peter Frey from Annerton explains what eIDAS 2 changes legally and how this EU regulation sets the framework for a truly European digital identity. – Tune in now!
Table of Contents
eIDAS 2: The Legal Framework of the EUDI Wallet
In this episode, Dana Wondra speaks with Peter Frey, partner and lawyer at Annerton, about the EUDI Wallet and the newly revised eIDAS 2 regulation and outlines why eIDAS 2 goes far beyond a classic electronic signature framework and how it paves the way for a pan-European digital identity infrastructure.
From Fragmentation to EU-Wide Identity Infrastructure
The original 2014 eIDAS Regulation aimed to regulate electronic identification and trust services. However, it failed to gain traction due to the lack of interoperability between national identity systems. eIDAS 2 marks a clear paradigm shift: for the first time, a unified digital identity infrastructure for the entire EU is being created – with the EUDI Wallet at its core. It is designed to work across all Member States, based on harmonised technical, legal, and procedural standards.
Governance, Implementing Acts and Attribute Infrastructure
The legal significance lies also in the choice of instrument: as an EU regulation, eIDAS 2 is directly applicable in all Member States, avoiding national divergences. Technical details are defined in implementing acts based on the Architecture Reference Framework, which outlines the target architecture for the Wallet. Another innovation is the attribute infrastructure: beyond identity data, the Wallet can store and prove verified attributes such as age, professional qualifications, or driver’s licences.
Clear Acceptance Obligations – Voluntary Use
Public authorities are obliged to accept the EUDI Wallet where identification is required. Certain private entities – including banks and large online platforms – must also recognise it in specific scenarios. Importantly, usage of the Wallet remains voluntary for citizens. eIDAS 2 thus lays the legal foundation for a functioning, Europe-wide identity and attribute infrastructure.
About This Podcast
Alles Legal – Fintech Law in Brief delivers weekly insights into legal and compliance topics in the banking and fintech sectors.
This podcast is a collaboration between Payment & Banking and PayTechLaw.
Each Wednesday, our experts explain current legal developments in a clear and concise way – no legalese, just the context you need. Since 2021, PayTechLaw authors and Annerton lawyers have been bringing legal depth to the mic without losing clarity.
Whether it’s PSD3, DORA or FiDA – we provide the background you need. In 20 minutes. Straight to the point.
