Press Release - Electronic signatures, seals and other trust services valid throughout EU as of tomorrow
From 1 July, people, businesses and public administrations across the EU will be able to carry out convenient, secure and legally-valid electronic transactions across borders.
EU rules on electronic signatures, electronic seals, time stamps, electronic delivery service and website authentication, as well as electronic documents – as set out in the eIDAS Regulation (electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market) – will apply directly in all EU Member States.
This means that, for example, an electronic signature will be recognised in the same way as a handwritten one, across the EU. They will have the same legal validity. AndrusAnsip, Vice-President of the European Commission for the Digital Single Market, discussed this important step at an eIDAS eventin Brussels this morning (see VP Ansip's talkandwebstreaming of the event). He said: "Life will become easier in a wide range of areas, from filing tax returns, enrolling in a foreign university or remotely opening a bank account to authenticating internet payments for online shopping or bidding in online tenders.
Trust, convenience, security: these are what people expect from a well-functioning Digital Single Market." (See hisblog post). More details about eIDAS.
(For more information: Nathalie Vandystadt – Tel.: +32 229 67083; Marie Frenay - Tel.: +32 229 64532)
page source http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release
