site.btaBulgaria Moves to Introduce European Digital Identity Wallet, Bill Set for Public Consultation

A draft law on the European Digital Identity Wallet was published on the Public Consultation Portal of the Council of Ministers of Bulgaria on February 17, marking the first formal step toward introducing a Bulgarian digital identity wallet. The bill seeks to establish the national legal framework for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 and the updated provisions of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS).

According to the explanatory memorandum, although the European regulation has direct effect, Member States must regulate at national level the organizational and procedural aspects related to the building, supervision, certification and maintenance of trust lists. The European Digital Identity framework entered into force on May 20, 2024, and obliges EU Member States to provide digital identity wallets to citizens by 2026, enabling secure cross-border access to services across the EU.

Right to a wallet and voluntary use

The draft provides that every natural and legal person will have the right to a European Digital Identity Wallet. Issuance, use and revocation of the wallet will be free of charge for individuals. The principle of voluntary use is explicitly guaranteed, no one may be required to use the wallet as the sole means of access to an electronic service.

The wallet will allow individuals to sign documents free of charge with a qualified electronic signature when acting for non-professional purposes. For this purpose, a one-year qualified certificate will be issued, with the State paying fixed compensation to integrated qualified trust service providers.

Building and integration of the Bulgarian wallet

Under the bill, the Minister of e-Government will be responsible for building and maintaining the Bulgarian European Digital Identity Wallet. For its operation, free access is envisaged to information funds containing data on Bulgarian identity documents, population register data, and other authentic data sources.

The explanatory notes state that integration interfaces will be developed and the state hybrid private cloud and the inter-register exchange environment will be used to provide electronic attribute attestations.

An architectural framework of the ecosystem has also been prepared. It includes a register of participants, a register of trust lists, personal identification data providers, providers of electronic attribute attestations, relying parties and intermediaries, as well as mechanisms for both online and offline use of the wallet.

Trust Lists and Mandatory Acceptance

The draft regulates the creation and maintenance of electronic, machine-readable trust lists of wallet providers, identity data providers, public sector bodies issuing electronic attribute attestations, and relying parties.

All providers of electronic administrative services will be required to ensure functionality for online and offline acceptance of wallets. The Supreme Judicial Council will have to provide integration with the unified e-justice portal.

Administrative penalty provisions are also introduced for failure to accept the wallet where acceptance is mandatory, as well as for providing wallets without registration.

Certification, supervision and EU cooperation

The bill introduces a national certification scheme for European Digital Identity Wallets to be approved by the Council of Ministers. Conformity assessments will be carried out by accredited bodies, while the Minister of e-Government will exercise supervision over wallet providers.

The Minister will also act as a single point of contact with the European Commission, including for notification of certified wallets, supervisory authorities and security breaches.

Expected Results

Expected results from the implementation of the law include the deployment of a Bulgarian European Digital Identity Wallet, increased access to electronic services, reduced administrative burden, and improved security and trust in electronic interactions across the EU.

The draft has been published for public consultation under the Act on Statutory Instruments, and a report on received opinions and proposals will be prepared after the consultation period ends. Authorities expect that each EU Member State will soon provide such a wallet to its citizens, residents and businesses, ensuring a secure and privacy-preserving method of digital identification throughout the Union.