Blockchain
European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI)
Introducing the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI)
Blockchain technology has enormous potential to enhance the way that citizens, governments and businesses interact, by enhancing trust between entities and improving the efficiency of operations.
The European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI) is a joint initiative from the European Commission and the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP) to deliver EU-wide cross-border public services using blockchain technology. The EBSI will be materialised as a network of distributed nodes across Europe (the blockchain), leveraging an
increasing number of applications focused on specific use cases. In 2020, EBSI will become a CEF Building Block, providing reusable software, specifications and services to support adoption by EU institutions and European public administrations.
#EUBlockchain: The European Blockchain Services Infrastructure
Discover Eva’s journey using the blockchain solution developed by the European Commission and the European Blockchain Partnership members: the European Blockchain Services Infrastructure (EBSI). As of January 2020 the members of the partnership will have the possibility to test the infrastructure while developing a second version of the project.
EBSI Key Figures
€4M/year
Budget invested
2019-2020
4
Use cases selected
in 2019
300+
Contributors
and counting
19
MS hosting at least one node
25
nodes live
11
nodes in setup phase
The 2019 EBSI use cases
Four use cases have been selected for 2019. For each use case, a Member State led and composed user group has been established. These user groups aim to deliver a prototype application on the EBSI blockchain by early 2020. A new set of use cases will be selected by the EBP Policy Group for 2020.
Notarisation
Leveraging the power of blockchain to create trusted digital audit trails, automate compliance checks in time-sensitive processes and prove data integrity.
Diplomas
Giving control back to citizens when managing their education credentials; significantly reducing verification costs and improving authenticity trust.
European Self-Sovereign Identity
Implementing a generic Self-Sovereign Identity capability, allowing users to create and control their own identity across borders without relying on centralised authorities.
Trusted Data Sharing
Leveraging blockchain technology to securely share data (e.g. IOSS VAT identification numbers and import one-stop-shop) amongst customs and tax authorities in the EU.
How does it work?
The EBSI Platform is a peer to peer network of interconnected nodes. The Commission will operate a minimum number of these EBSI nodes at the European level, and the Member States will operate EBSI nodes at the national level. All the nodes will be able to create and broadcast transactions that will update the ledger. All the nodes will be synchronized, sharing the same state of the ledgers and off-chain districted storages.
The architecture of each node will be composed of three main functional areas:
- A set of three layers comprising components that together provide the main services, containing capabilities common to all use cases. These capabilities include core services, connectivity to Blockchain networks, and connectivity to off-chain storages.
- One layer of use cases that provides sample applications for each selected use case to showcase the functionalities, technical implementation and use of exposed services.
- One layer of business applications that is not part of the EBSI infrastructure but enables the private of public organisations to develop applications that connect to EBSI nodes and consume the exposed core services, having the option to reuse the code from sample use cases layer
Who will benefit from EBSI?
EU Citizens
Transact across borders with public services more securely than ever before.
EU Institutions
Simplify administrative processes, enable regulatory compliance and increase efficiency in cross-border public services.
National Administrations
Simplify administrative processes, increase efficiency and instill trust in citizens.
Where did EBSI come from?
Tallinn declaration on eGovernment
In 2017, Member States and EFTA countries signed the Tallinn declaration on eGovernment, outlining the importance of efficient and secure digital public services in order to achieve the full potential of the Digital Single Market.
European Blockchain Partnership declaration
In 2018, 27 EU Member States, Norway and Liechtenstein signed a declaration creating the European Blockchain Partnership (EBP) with the ambition to provide digital public services matching the required level of digital security and maturity of today's society.
European Blockchain Services Infrastructure
On 14 February 2019, the European Commission published the 2019 Telecommunications Work Programme of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), creating initial funding conditions for EBSI
Register to the EBSI Newsletter
What milestones
are paving the way towards EBSI?
2019
Q1
Selection of first use cases
for EBSI V 1.0
Q2
Start selection process
for new use cases
Deployment of EBSI V 1.0
with first use cases
2020
Q1
Selection of new use cases
for EBSI V 2.0
2021
Deployment of EBSI V 2.0
with new use cases
What services will be provided
by the EBSI building block?
Once the CEF Building Block is launched, several services will be provided by the European Commission, to be known as the ‘Core Service Platform’ of EBSI. If you want to know more about how we define the services for Building Blocks, read more about our Service Offering Canvas Playbook.
Core
Services
Creation and maintenance of the open technical specifications of the EBSI.
Enabling
Services
Provision of services that facilitate the adoption of the EBSI such as:
- Deployment packages
- Testing services
- Training services
Enhancing
Services
Services that further accelerate the adoption of EBSI by enhancing the experience of the Public Administrations using it. They mainly relate to stakeholder on-boarding and follow-up, including:
- Deployment packages
- Testing services
- Training services
Get in touch with the EBP for any questions!
