Europe faces a December 2026 deadline for EU Digital ID Wallet availability. While nine countries already have solutions, thirteen are developing, and four haven't started. Non-EU countries are also adopting the EUDI model for future cross-border recognition.
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Europe is moving swiftly towards a unified digital identity system. By December 2026, all 27 EU member states must provide a European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet, empowering citizens with secure, convenient digital identification across the bloc.
Nine EU nations, including Austria, Italy, and France, already boast operational digital identity wallets. They're integrating EUDI functionalities into existing national digital ID applications. Austria's eID Austria and Italy's IO App, with their vast user bases, exemplify a rapid deployment strategy. This approach demonstrates a seamless migration potential, streamlining the transition to the new EUDI architecture for millions of citizens.
Thirteen additional countries are actively developing their EUDI wallets, ranging from beta testing to pre-production. Germany's innovative SPRIN-D FUNKE competition, funding prototypes for its Gov EUDI Wallet, showcases a commitment to research and user-centric design. These diverse development efforts, whether custom-built or leveraging the Reference Implementation Wallet, highlight varied strategies to meet the EUDI Framework's requirements.
While significant progress is evident, four EU states—Bulgaria, Croatia, Malta, and Romania—are yet to commence their EUDI Wallet initiatives. Delays stem from political decisions, budget constraints, and institutional capacity needs. However, these nations can learn from early adopters to accelerate their implementation. Beyond the EU, six Western Balkan, Eastern European, and South Caucasus countries are also aligning their digital ID efforts with the EUDI Framework.
The evolving EUDI ecosystem, potentially including private providers, promises a more secure, user-friendly digital future for all European citizens.