site.btaOutgoing E-Government Minister: Bulgarian IT Sector to Be Actively Involved in Building European Digital Identity Wallet

Bulgaria’s IT sector will be actively involved in the development of the European Digital Identity Wallet, outgoing Minister of e-Government Valentin Mundrov said after a working meeting with representatives of the IT business, the Ministry of e-Government reported on Thursday.

The discussion focused on progress and next steps in building the European Digital Identity Wallet. The meeting followed a series of working talks held in recent weeks as part of an ongoing dialogue with the sector.

Participants agreed that the first step should be to outline and prepare the necessary legislative changes to provide a clear and stable framework for the process. The private sector should then be actively involved in the development of the digital wallet itself, including the creation and provision of individual services within it.

“The process cannot be one-sided. The private sector is technologically advanced, which is why we need to join forces and find the right model – one that protects the state’s interests while also creating opportunities for business development,” Mundrov said.

He also highlighted the risk for the state if the European regulation is not met, under which the digital identity wallet must be built and introduced by the end of 2026. Transparency, coordination and sustainability are essential so that citizens receive a high-quality and reliable service, he added.

The working group will continue its activities, aiming to lay solid foundations for the project, identify the required legislative changes and determine the most effective implementation model. Meetings with IT sector representatives will continue next week, the Ministry said.

The European Digital Identity Wallet is an application that every EU Member State must develop by the end of 2026. It will allow citizens to prove their identity when accessing online services across the EU, provided by both public and private entities, and to sign documents with a qualified electronic signature, offering faster access to services, less bureaucracy, higher security and better personal data protection.

At a meeting with Bulgarian European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research, and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva in Brussels in December, outgoing Minister Mundrov emphasized that the European Digital Identity Wallet is a top priority for the e-Government Ministry and that the application must be ready by the end of 2026.