Who is involved?

Actors within the eIDAS eID ecosystem are diverse; from varying levels of public administration, to private sector organisations operating in many different domains. They can broadly be divided into two groups, based on the nature of their involvement:

1. Public or private entities helping to set up the eIDAS Network by making national eID schemes interoperable (using the DIGITAL eID building block to do so)
2. Public or private entities and projects using eIDAS eID to make their online services accessible to foreign notified eIDs (supported by the Member States to do so)

1. Setting up the eIDAS Network

eIDAS-Node implementers and operators

These are public administrations or private organisations tasked with implementing and/or maintaining an eIDAS-Node. Each Member State designates its own set of parties responsible for this. The eIDAS-Node implementer can be a separate organisation to the eIDAS-Node operator, or both roles can be played by the same organisation. During the eIDAS eID deployment process, eIDAS-Node implementers and operators will need to implement the solution nationally to connect to the eIDAS Network and to (optionally) integrate national Identity Providers and Attribute Providers. 

Single Points of Contact

In line with Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2015/296, the eIDAS Cooperation Network was created to facilitate cooperation between Member States in regard to the interoperability and security of the eID schemes. The Cooperation Network subsequently appointed a Single Point of Contact - a public entity, or individual representing a public entity, per country. The role of the Single Point of Contact is to help Service and Identity Providers connect to the eIDAS Network. With knowledge of the specific technical, legal and operational processes required to do this in their countries, the Single Points of Contact are an essential resource.

Identity Providers 

These are public administrations or private sector organisations “issuing the electronic identification means and the party operating the authentication procedure”. They provide their user base with a secure online identity which is used with a national eID scheme/s. Connecting to their national eIDAS-Node will make their eID scheme/s available on the eIDAS Network so that citizens and businesses from that country can make use of their eID to access online services in other countries. During this process, Identity Providers will be supported by the Member States. Identity Providers will also take part in the notification process by providing relevant information concerning the national eID schemes, as part of determining its level of assurance. 

Attribute Providers 

These are entities which are entitled to manage information about the electronic identity (specific data describing that identity) which is beyond that of the minimum dataset specified by the eIDAS Regulation. Additional information beyond the minimum dataset (e.g. sector-specific data) may be required for authentication in certain circumstances, and this will therefore be supplied by an Attribute Provider. Attribute Providers must connect to their national eIDAS-Node, in order to make their data registers available on the eIDAS Network. 

2. Using eIDAS eID

Public Service Providers

These are public administrations that provide online services to European citizens. Those public administrations providing online services (at national level) which require eID assurance corresponding to a level of 'substantial' or 'high', will be obliged under the eIDAS Regulation to also provide access to users from other European countries (who are using a national eID which has been notified). To enable cross-border access to their online services, Service Providers are supported by the Member States to connect to the eIDAS-Node in their country. A wide range of Service Providers, both in the public and private sectors, will likely be connected at the national level. Read more to learn how you can get started in using eIDAS eID as a public sector service provider.

Private Service Providers

These are private sector organisations providing online services to European citizens, which either already use national eID means or could benefit from the use of such. They are not obliged under the eIDAS Regulation to accept foreign eIDs but may well have an incentive to do so (for example, banks will be able to offer their services to potential clients throughout Europe, thereby broadening their customer base). Private sector organisations wishing to use eIDAS eID will also be supported by the Member States to connect to the eIDAS-Node in their country. Read more to learn how you can get started in using eIDAS eID as a private sector service provider.

Sector-specific EU projects

These are cross-border EU projects, operating within a specific domain, which provide an online service that uses eID means for access. It may be possible for these projects to connect to the eIDAS Network by using the EU-Login component (for which they must integrate with the 'EU Node'). In other cases, these projects will need to agree with the Cooperation Network on how best to use eIDAS eID, based on their needs. This is normally done with the assistance of the DIGITAL eID team, which will help them conduct a feasibility study.

EU citizens

European citizens are the end users or beneficiaries of eIDAS eID. Mutual recognition of national eID schemes and the adoption of eIDAS eID by Service Providers will allow citizens to use their own nationally-issued eIDs to access services in other countries.

Governance and management 

European Commission

• The Directorate-General for Informatics (DIGIT) is responsible for the technical management of the DIGITAL eID building block.
• The Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT) is responsible for the implementation of the EU policy directly related to eID and Trust Services.
• The Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA) is responsible for the implementation of the DIGITAL Telecom programme grants in cooperation with the Commission.

Member State participation  

Member State representation groups, coordinated by the Commission, include the Cooperation Network, eIDAS Expert Group and eIDAS Technical Sub-group. These groups regularly contribute to the management of different aspects of the eIDAS eID deployment process, including eIDAS policy coordination, the eIDAS notification process, and the development, maintenance and operation of the DIGITAL eID building block.