The first release candidate of CEF eDelivery's Domibus 4.2 is now available
The European Commission is happy to announce that the first release candidate (RC1) of the 4.2 release of the Domibus AS4 sample implementation software is now available. Domibus 4.2 is a major release bringing extensive technical improvements and several new features. The Commission strongly encourages all interested parties to test this release candidate and report any issues found as soon as possible so that they can be fixed in the final release planned for December 2020. However, as this is not a production ready release, it should be used for testing purposes only.
Domibus 4.2 RC1 has been achieved through close collaboration between different EU policy projects' IT delivery teams and CEF eDelivery. Highlights of the release include:
- Possibility to configure outgoing messages based on predefined criteria (service and action or authenticated user or a message property)
- Possibility to update the PMode of own Access Point through a REST API
- Compliance with the eDelivery AS4 Pull Feature
- Possibility to monitor the connection state between corners 2 and 3
- Possibility to configure the retention policy mechanism to also delete the message metadata from the database
- Default JMS Plugin: possibility to configure different queues depending on service and action
- Extensive technical improvements
Supported platforms:
Application server:
WildFly 20.0.x
Apache Tomcat 9.0.x
Database:
MySQL 8 (future versions might work)
Oracle 12c and Oracle 19c
JAVA:
Oracle JRE8 (for WildFly, Tomcat and WebLogic)
OpenJDK 11 (only for WildFly and Tomcat, not for WebLogic)
More information about the release is available on this page.
About CEF and CEF eDelivery:
The eDelivery Building Block of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) promotes the use of the AS4 messaging protocol to create a secure channel for the transmission of documents and data by electronic means, over the internet or via a private network.
CEF eDelivery is a network of nodes for digital communications. It is based on a distributed model where every participant becomes a node using standard transport protocols and security policies. AS4 both provides evidence relating to the handling of the transmitted data as well as protecting it against the risk of loss, theft, damage or any unauthorised alterations.
CEF supports multiple digital infrastructure projects which contribute to improvements in the daily lives of Europeans through digital inclusion, the connectivity and interoperability of European digital services, and the development of a Digital Single Market.
CEF eDelivery: Domibus 4.1.5 bugfix release - Available Now
The European Commission is happy to announce that the 4.1.5 release of the Domibus AS4 sample implementation software is now available. Domibus 4.1.5 is a minor bugfix release, also including security fixes. All users are strongly encouraged to upgrade to this version.
The Domibus 4.1.5 includes a number of bug fixes:
- Filtering by JMS selector using JMSTimestamp property as string should throw error
- Nothing appears in the logs when filtering JMS messages in JMS Monitoring page
- Domibus: print payload=false doesn't strip payload for retrieveMessage operation
- Domibus - JMS Plugin in Dynamic Scenario
- User field data gets overwritten on Audit page in case of Message resend event
- Proxy does not work when password is encrypted
- An issue on MySQL script: Columns from TB_CERTIFICATE and TB_SEND_ATTEMPT tables are TIMESTAMP instead of DATETIME
- Domibus 4.1.2 and 4.1.3 does not use BouncyCastle provider in WebLogic
- Domibus prints the message id in the logs after message is not being used
- Domibus sends password expired alerts for plugin users despite password expiration is disabled
- Multiple clients concurrently requesting messages from the Default WS Plugin leads to duplicate messages
- Mapping several legs to an mpc failing when the leg does not have payload profile
- Domibus does not log hibernate messages on Weblogic and Wildfly server if Hibernate loggers are set to 'debug' or 'trace' level
- JMS event in DLQ
- EbMS3Exception: logging more information
- Encrypted proxy password
- Quartz triggers sometimes gets blocked
- Add a maxSize limit when setting property values at runtime
Domibus 4.1.5 is backward compatible with 4.1.x and the upgrade is not mandatory.
Please use FS Plugin 4.1.3 instead of 4.1.5.
More information about the release is available on this page.
About CEF and CEF eDelivery:
The eDelivery Building Block of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) promotes the use of the AS4 messaging protocol to create a secure channel for the transmission of documents and data by electronic means, over the internet or via a private network.
CEF eDelivery is a network of nodes for digital communications. It is based on a distributed model where every participant becomes a node using standard transport protocols and security policies. AS4 both provides evidence relating to the handling of the transmitted data as well as protecting it against the risk of loss, theft, damage or any unauthorised alterations.
CEF supports multiple digital infrastructure projects which contribute to improvements in the daily lives of Europeans through digital inclusion, the connectivity and interoperability of European digital services, and the development of a Digital Single Market.
Request a certificate of good conduct with eID
Easily obtain a certificate of good conduct anywhere in the EU
EU Member States keep digitalised records of their residents’ convictions, which is essential for criminal proceedings, but also key in other situations. For instance, some employers may request a certificate of good conduct to assess if a candidate is suitable for a particular job.
To address these needs, EU Member States have taken steps to make it straightforward for their residents to request a certificate of good conduct. In many Member States, it is already possible to request this certificate online.
But it is critical that users are properly identified and authenticated before their criminal record is sent to them — and that is where eIDAS eIDs are beginning to make a difference.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you request a certificate of good conduct with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Countries which have already connected their Certificate of Good Conduct service to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Lithuania
At the Lithuanian eGovernment Portal, users can electronically submit a request for receiving a digital certificate or extract of their criminal register, review the progress of previous requests, or provide consent for sharing their register with authorised persons.
Slovakia
The online General Prosecutor's Office of the Slovak Republic offers the possibility of receiving one’s criminal record extract, which can be shared electronically or in paper. Users have the option of logging in with the national Slovak eID card or with a notified eIDAS eID.
Other countries where you can use an eIDAS eID to apply for a certificate of good conduct
Austria - Finland - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Slovakia
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that already provide them, you can consult the overview of notified eIDs across the EU and apply to get one.
Use eID to access social security services
No more queuing for social security services
EU countries provide a range of social security services, such as unemployment benefits or health insurance, that work as a “safety net” for their citizens.
Although countries differ significantly in how they provide these services, this overall goal remains the same. When citizens move to work in another EU country, they may have rights to the social security services available in that country.
In order to improve people’s access to services and benefits, many Member States have made it possible to apply for at least some of them online. Thanks to eIDAS eIDs, identifying yourself for these online processes is now more simple and secure for EU citizens who have moved to another EU country.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you access social security services with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Countries which have already connected their Social Security Services to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Netherlands
The Social Insurance bank gives access to a range of services, such as child benefits or survivor benefits. All of them are available in a single online portal, where users can log-in using DigiD (the Dutch national eID) or an eIDAS eID.
Finland
Kela, the Social Insurance Institution of Finland, provides basic economic security for everyone living in the country. Users can apply to several benefits and services, such as housing benefits, students’ aid or unemployment pensions, logging in with their national eIDs or eIDAS eID.
All countries
Austria - Croatia - Finland - Lithuania - Luxembourg - Netherlands - Slovakia
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that already provide them, you can consult the overview of notified eIDs across the EU and apply to get one.
Applying for university across borders with eID
Full speed ahead towards your future
Applying for universities is a key moment for young people across the EU — a step that can shape the rest of their careers. Many choose to study abroad, in EU countries, for a richer experience in which they can learn new subjects while getting immersed in a different culture.
In the majority of EU countries, although applications can be performed online, the process depends on the university one is applying to. But in a number of Member States, a centralized online process was already set up in order to ease the admissions process.
For some of these, proceedings got even easier with the introduction of eIDAS eIDs that facilitate the cross-border authentication of the applicant’s identity.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you apply for university with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Countries which have already connected their University Application service to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Slovenia
Prospective students can browse different types of courses from universities around the country in the EVŠ web portal, where they can also submit their application. Log-in is available with the Slovenian eID (SI-PASS) or an eIDAS eID.
Croatia
Croatia’s central portal for university applications provides a range of information about studying possibilities, comparisons between courses, the labour market and even the current demand for different degrees. Applicants can use their national ID or an eIDAS eID to log-in.
Other countries where you can use an eIDAS eID to apply for university
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that already provide them, you can consult the overview of notified eIDs across the EU and apply to get one.
Request a residence certificate with eID
Get your residence certificate over the internet
In some countries, residence certificates are often required for someone to prove their address or that they are entitled to services and benefits only available for residents — such as opening a bank account or getting health insurance. In other countries, residence information is stored and shared digitally.
As such, applying for a residence certificate or updating residence information is likely one of the early services that an EU citizen will need after moving to another EU country. With a residence certificate they can access other local or national services.
To this day, many Member States have already made it possible to apply for a residence certificate online. The whole process becomes even easier with an eIDAS eID, as newly arrived citizens will probably not have a national eID yet.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you apply for a residence certificate with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Countries which have already connected their Residence Certificate Request service to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Finland
Population Information System is the central Finnish system, storing basic information about Finnish and foreign citizens residing in Finland. Resident certificates and a range of other official documents can be requested here, upon identification with a national eID or eIDAS eID.
Luxembourg
Luxembourg’s central eGovernment Portal provides access to a number of public services. By logging in with their national eID or an eIDAS eID, users can request different certificates, such as an extract from the National Registry of National Persons stating their official place of residence.
Other countries where you can use an eIDAS eID to request a residence certificate
Austria - Estonia - Finland - Luxembourg - Slovakia - Spain (Pamplona) - Spain (Ceuta)
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that already provide them, you can consult the overview of notified eIDs across the EU and apply to get one.
Applying for a pension just got a lot easier thanks to eID
Requesting your pension online is now easier in the EU
EU Member States provide pensions to citizens and residents to ensure their quality of life during retirement and old age. According to EU rules, citizens who have moved from one country to another can receive the full pension rights they have accumulated by working in several countries. They merely need to apply to the pension authority in the EU country they reside in.
In order to ease the application process for pensions, many Member States have already made it available online. In some Member States, it is now possible for EU citizens to access this online application using an eIDAS eID.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you apply for a pension with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Countries which have already connected their Pension Request service to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Slovakia
The Social Insurance Agency provides a range of social services, from sickness and accident insurance, to unemployment benefits and pensions. These services are made available over a single electronic portal where users can log-in using either their national Slovakian eID or an eIDAS eID.
Slovenia
The Slovenian Pension and Disability Institute (ZPIZ) is responsible for both social insurance and pensions, providing an online portal that citizens can access with an eIDAS eID. Visit it to apply for a pension, get information on pension rights and insurance data, among other services.
Other countries where you can use an eIDAS eID to apply for a pension
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that already provide them, you can consult the overview of notified eIDs across the EU and apply to get one.
Getting your Driving License online with eID
Manage your Driving License requests over the Internet
Applying for a driving license is a service that many EU citizens require at one time or another in their life.
Although there are certain stages that require attendance in person (such as taking the practical driving exam), a number of Member States have already taken steps to ensure that at least some parts of the process can be conducted online.
In this way, governments hope to get residents on the road and where they want to be with a minimum of hassle. Thanks to the introduction of eIDAS eID schemes, these online operations are becoming more easily accessible for EU citizens.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you get your Driving License with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Countries which have already connected their Driving License Request service to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Finland
The Finnish Transport and Communications Agency allows citizens to apply for their driving license online — log-in is available through a range of both Finnish and eIDAS eIDs. The service automatically fetches data, such as the user’s photograph, signature and address, to complete the process and mail the license upon approval.
Lithuania
Users can log-in through Lithuania’s eGovernment portal to reach the website where they can apply for a driving licence. EU citizens can also request to exchange their current license, from a EU country, for a Lithuanian one, besides being able to pay for it, order its delivery via courier, or reviewing any data that the system has stored about them.
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that already provide them, you can consult the overview of notified eIDs across the EU and apply to get one.
Now you can submit your Tax Return with eID
Digital and secure public services in the EU
The submission of tax returns is a fundamental public service and the EU has seen great progress in terms of its digitalisation. In some countries, such as Belgium, the necessary information is already pre-filled and the process can be completed with a few clicks.
But given the sensitive nature of the service, and its ties to funds for the state, it is particularly crucial that any chance of fraud or identity theft is minimised. In the large majority of Member States this has been achieved by drawing on national level eID schemes.
What is eID and how does it work?
Countries across the EU have developed national electronic identity schemes to improve citizen’s access to national services. But all these national eID systems had differing security mechanisms and were based on different philosophies, lacking cross-border recognition and validation.
To address this, an EU approach, underpinned by the eIDAS Regulation, has been set up. CEF eID now provides the standards and supports the infrastructure (the eIDAS network) which allows these national eID schemes to be mutually recognisable.
A network of eIDAS nodes has been set up across all EEA Member States, based on these standards. This means that an ever growing number of notified national eID schemes can now be used to identify citizens who wish to access different public services in other EU countries.
An overview of the countries already providing notified eID schemes under eIDAS can be found here.
Where can you submit a tax return with an eIDAS eID?
If you have an eID from a notified eID scheme, you can start using it right away to access online public services in EU countries. The list of notified eID schemes is growing rapidly — currently 19, across 15 Member States. 1
Member States which have already connected their Tax Return Submission to the eIDAS network make it possible for citizens from other EU countries to access it, using a notified eIDAS eID.
Here are some examples of where this is already possible:
Austria
More than 5 million people use FinanzOnline, Austria's internationally recognized e-government flagship. Citizens can log-in using the Austrian citizen card (national eID scheme) as well as using notified eIDAS eIDs.
Luxembourg
In Luxembourg, tax payers automatically receive an invitation to download and complete tax return forms, either on Guichet.lu or on the website of the Luxembourg Inland Revenue (ACD). Users can sign in with LuxTrust or a notified eIDAS eID.
Other countries where you can use an eIDAS eID to submit your tax return
Austria - Belgium - Croatia - Estonia - Luxembourg - Netherlands - Slovakia - Slovenia
If you know of another EU Member State where this service can be accessed using an online eID, contact us with the details and we will add them to the list.
If you do not yet have an eID from a notified eID scheme, but are a citizen from one of the countries that provide them, you can consult the overview of services for countries and apply to get your eID.
CEF eInvoicing Code List update, September 2020
As of 4 September 2020, the European Commission has released an update to several eInvoicing code lists managed under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).
The European standard on eInvoicing (EN16931) defines which code lists may be used for each business term that has the data type "code", such as electronic address, VAT number, etc.
This release consists of a new version of EAS code list: one code added (0209) and one deprecated (9958), as per the favourable opinion of the CEF Code Lists Advisory Group on 27 August 2020.
The Commission has also published a full listing of the code lists as used in EN16931: four codes updated (0205, 0206, 0207, 0197).
The Commission provides a Registry of supporting technical resources (validation artefacts, code lists, etc.) to implement the European standard on eInvoicing. You can receive email notifications for each update to the items included in the registry (such as these code lists) directly on the dedicated page in the CEF eInvoicing User Community (simply follow the instructions at the bottom of the page).
CEF eInvoicing
The European Commission supports public administrations comply with Directive 2014/55/EU on electronic invoicing in public procurement with the CEF eInvoicing Building Block.
Review of CEF eArchiving procedures is now open
The eArchiving Building Block has begun an open review of six of the procedures and guidelines that support the eArchiving specifications. The Building Block is now seeking members of the eArchiving community who are willing to provide reviews comments.
The specifications and documents will be released for review in four groups. The first group of documents to be reviewed consists mainly of guidelines which support the development of eArchiving specifications, the review closes on 15 November 2020. Further documentation will be made available for review in October 2020, February 2021 and May 2021.
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) eArchiving Building Block provides specifications, reference software, training and service desk support for digital archiving and preservation. The safe preservation of digital information is more important than ever and a prerequisite to digitally interconnecting Europe. As digital technology evolves, organisations need to migrate their data across different generations of software to preserve it over time, in data repositories and archives they can trust.
The E-ARK consortium is the group of organisations that support the CEF eArchiving Building Block through developing technical specifications and standards, running training and conducts outreach for the Building Block. Digital Information LifeCycle Interoperability Standards Board (DILCIS Board) was created to enhance and maintain the draft specifications developed in the E-ARK project. Since 2018 the DILCIS Board has been responsible for developing and maintaining the core specifications in the eArchiving Building Block.
Adoption of the CEF Building Blocks reaches new heights in first semester of 2020
The European Commission is happy to publish the latest reuse figures for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Building Blocks, and other CEF-financed digital infrastructure, covering the first semester of 2020.
These figures show that an increasing number of projects are adopting and reusing the Building Blocks. The CEF Building Blocks are open and reusable solutions that interconnect Europe's digital ecosystem, building a Digital Single Market.
Uptake at a glance
Two additional big data pilots have started using the cloud testing infrastructure of the Big Data Test Infrastructure (BDTI) Building Block. One of these two pilots focuses on COVID-19. The aim of this pilot is to develop a tool to analyse and synthesise the huge quantity of existing scientific evidence and regulation documentation on COVID-19, to support clinicians and managers with advanced data visualisation tools. Find out more about that pilot in this news item.
Almost 68 million documents were exchanged through CEF eDelivery access points. This confirms a steady and continuous increase in the number of documents exchanged.
Denmark has peer-reviewed and notified its first eID scheme: NemID.
Three additional EU/EEA countries have deployed a Business-to-Government solution that is compliant with the European Standard on eInvoicing. You can explore the eInvoicing country factsheets to learn more about the approach for receiving and processing electronic invoices in Europe.
The various releases of the CEF eSignature Digital Signature Services (DSS) open-source libraries have been downloaded 3.771 times via the CEF Digital platform. This shows a promising increase in the number of downloads.
15 additional solutions have integrated the DSS open-source library to create and/or validate electronic signatures and electronic seals, compliant with the eIDAS Regulation and related standards.
Almost 90 million additional translation requests were carried out using the CEF eTranslation system. This is the steepest increase in one semester since the launch of the eTranslation system. Find out more about eTranslation features on CEF Digital.
Find more more in-depth information on the uptake of each Building Block via the monitoring dashboard.
Reuse at a glance
Adoption of the CEF Building Blocks reached an all-time high of 316 projects reusing or committed to reusing the CEF-financed open and reusable solutions during the first half of 2020. This represents an increase of more than 50% compared to the first half of 2019, when recorded reuse-cases stood at 208.
Q4 2014 - Q2 2020, CEF monitoring dashboard
Discover more insight in the CEF reuse dashboard. The reuse journey evolves from analysis, to commitment and finally into reuse after the implementation of one or more CEF Building Blocks.
eSignature service used to sign World Bank agreement
On July 8 2020, the European Commission and the World Bank signed electronically a Financial Framework Partnership Agreement, which guides the terms under which the Bank Group will use EU funding for development projects across the world. This is the first international document the Commission signs using its own Qualified Electronic Signature service, EU Sign, an implementation of the eSignature Building Block. It was also the first time the Commission made use of EUSign's newly introduced cloud-based qualified digital certificates.
In a Twitter post on the same day, the Commissioner for Budget and Administration, Johannes Hahn, described the e-signing of the agreement "a huge leap forward" in the Commission's target to become fully digital by 2024.
History of EU Sign
EU Sign was launched four years ago as an additional effort to further digitise Europe and decrease its dependence on paper.
Available to a number of European Institutions, bodies and agencies (EUIBAs), the service provides the possibility to electronically sign, validate and seal documents.
EU Sign is based on the CEF eSignature Building Block, an EU-wide standard for electronic signatures, which ensures the EU-wide (and further) recognition of the signatures made using this service. One of the signatures that EU Sign provides, the qualified electronic signature, has the same legal value as hand-written signatures.
In addition, the service is fully secured with encryption technology, used to verify and guarantee the integrity of the signed document and the identity of the signatory.
Covid-19: a game-changer
The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many companies and institutions to rethink the way they do business, including the preparation, signing, and filing of documents.
Over the last few months, the use of electronic signatures has seen an exponential growth. As social distancing becomes the norm, and most private homes lack the infrastructure of a traditional office, such as printers, scanners, and reams of paper, organisations have turned e-signatures into standard practice.
Between March and June this year, as strict lockdown measures were imposed around the world, the number of EU Sign end-users saw an increase of 260 percent. Monthly electronic signature operations went up by a staggering 600 percent.
Currently, 58 generic services projects allocated by INEA have been awarded to eSignature (and eID), while DSS Libraries have been downloaded more than 31.449 times.
European institutions have also taken full advantage of the service. In an effort to modernise its electronic archiving system, the Commission's Publications Office has employed the use of electronically signed PDFs. You can read its full implementation here.
How does eSignature work?
In Europe, electronic signatures are regulated by the eIDAS Regulation, which mandates the use of certain standards and specifications in the process.
Provided by the Connecting Europe Facility, the eSignature Building Block packages these standards with sample software and other support services to help Europeans build e-signature solutions recognised in all EU countries (and beyond).
The main component of CEF eSignature is the open-source library for Digital Signature Services (DSS). In essence, the DSS is a collection of standards, called baseline profiles, which specify how electronic signatures can be created and validated anywhere in Europe.
CEF's eSignature comprises a series of reusable software components, standards and libraries that enable out-of-the-box compliance with the eIDAS Regulation.
DSS supports the creation and verification of interoperable and secure electronic signatures in line with European legislation, and it can be re-used in an IT solution for electronic signatures to ensure its alignment with European legislation and standards.
eSignature capabilities can be integrated with corporate systems via the available Java clients. For non-Java based corporate systems, eSignature capabilities can be integrated by accessing a well documented REST API. In addition, it can be used via a brand new mobile-friendly Web Portal, although currently only remote signing is supported.
eSignature helps implement your own digital signature solution by providing the following services and resources:
The DSS Open-Source library: a library of software and technical specifications for building an eIDAS-conformant, interoperable eSignature solution;
- A browser of Trusted Lists containing trusted providers of e-signature and e-seal certificates
- A Trusted Lists Manager, that enables the creation, editing and maintenance of Trusted Lists in a standard, machine-readable format.
- E-Signature validation tests to ensure your solution is eIDAS-compliant
Less impact on the environment
While helping us abide by social distancing rules, CEF's eSignature Building Block is also mitigating our impact on the environment. Studies show that as much as 80% of consumed office paper is completely wasted, with only 7.5% of office paper waste reaching a recycling facility.
How can CEF help you?
Want to use eSignature on your project? We are here to help. Our tools and support services are described on our website and available to all. In addition to eSignature, we offer other Building Blocks, such as eID and eDelivery, which can also be used to support your digital signature activities. EU Sign is now available to a number of European institutions, agencies, and bodies (EUIBAs).
Electronic identification of users from all across Europe
Exchange data and documents securely and reliably
Create and verify electronic signatures in line with European standards