The eID Digital Building Block comprises a set of services (including software, documentation and support), provided by the European Commission and endorsed by the Member States, for eIdentification, in line with the eIDAS regulation, to enable the mutual recognition of national electronic identification schemes across borders. These services help public administrations to extend the use of their online services to citizens from other European countries.

Digital Europe Programme incorporates an action to support the implementation of the European Digital identity and Trust ecosystem where the current eID digital service infrastructure belongs. Member States shall be enabled to rely on a set of specifications and tools supporting the implementation of the eIDAS network, the technical infrastructure that connects national eID schemes through the so-called eIDAS-Nodes. Service Providers (public administrations) may then connect their services to this network, making these services accessible across borders via the notified eIDs.

The mutual recognition of notified eID schemes across Europe is mandated by the eIDAS regulation. The Regulation states that by 29 September 2018 all online public services requiring electronic identification must be able to accept the notified eID schemes from other EU countries. Public administrations offering online services that match these requirements are therefore obliged to comply.