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Regulation (EU) 2024/1183

eIDAS 2.0: what changes for electronic signature in 2026

Published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 30 April 2024, the eIDAS 2.0 regulation (EU 2024/1183) overhauls the European framework for digital identity and trust services, ten years after the original regulation. Five major innovations: the EUDI Wallet (European identity wallet) mandatory in all Member States by June 2026, qualified remote signature without smart card, two new qualified trust services (electronic registers and archiving), and strengthened cross-border enforceability. Here are the concrete impacts for businesses.

The 5 major changes brought by eIDAS 2.0

eIDAS 2.0 does not replace eIDAS 1.0: it amends and complements it. The achievements of the 2014 regulation (three signature levels SES/AES/QES, legal value equivalent to paper) remain in effect.

EUDI Wallet — European identity wallet

All Member States must provide their citizens with a free digital identity wallet by June 2026. The wallet stores verifiable credentials (identity, diplomas, driver's license, certificates) and allows online authentication without revealing more than necessary (selective disclosure). Public services and major private platforms (banking, telecoms, health, transport) must accept the EUDI Wallet as an authentication method.

Qualified remote signature (Remote QES)

Until now, qualified signature (QES) required a smart card and reader — a major adoption barrier. eIDAS 2.0 explicitly recognizes remote QES: the signatory's private key is stored in a secure HSM device hosted by the trust provider, the signatory uses it via strong authentication (MFA + biometrics). The legal value remains identical to that of QES on card.

Qualified electronic registers

New qualified trust service: record data in a tamper-proof register (often a permissioned blockchain) with a presumption of integrity and prior date that is enforceable. Uses: land registers, business registers, shareholder meeting transcripts, supply chain traceability.

Qualified electronic archiving

New qualified trust service: preserve electronically signed documents over the very long term while maintaining probative value beyond the expiration of original certificates. Essential for contracts with long legal value (real estate, patents, international contracts) where the retention horizon exceeds the validity period of a certificate (~5 years).

Strengthened cross-border enforceability

Qualified trust services of one Member State are recognized as a matter of law in all other Member States. eIDAS 2.0 adds financial penalties (up to 4% of global turnover) for national authorities that wrongly refuse a qualified signature issued in another country — practical end of administrative nationalism on signatures.

eIDAS 2.0 implementation timeline

Several milestones extend until 2027. Businesses are well-advised to anticipate the 2026 peak (EUDI Wallet + generalized Remote QES).

  1. 30 April 2024

    Adoption in the EU Official Journal

    Publication of regulation (EU) 2024/1183. Entry into force 20 days later (20 May 2024). From that date, the text is directly applicable in all Member States without national transposition, except for provisions requiring implementing acts.

  2. May 2025 — May 2026

    Technical implementing acts

    The European Commission adopts implementing acts defining the technical standards of the EUDI Wallet (interoperability, security, formats of verifiable credentials). Member States prepare their national wallet in parallel.

  3. June 2026

    Mandatory deployment of EUDI Wallet

    All Member States must make an EUDI Wallet freely available to their citizens. National public services must accept it. Large private platforms have an additional period to align (banking, telecoms, healthcare).

  4. 2026 — 2027

    Full operation

    Widespread adoption of remote QES, launch of the first qualified trust services in electronic registers and archiving. Companies can now adopt an eIDAS 2.0-compatible electronic signature platform to prepare for this transition.

Frequently asked questions — eIDAS 2.0

Does eIDAS 2.0 replace eIDAS 1.0?
No. eIDAS 2.0 is officially an amending regulation to Regulation (EU) 910/2014. The achievements of eIDAS 1.0 remain in force: three signature levels (Simple, Advanced, Qualified), legal recognition equivalent to paper, list of qualified providers (EU Trusted List). eIDAS 2.0 adds new services (EUDI Wallet, remote QES, registers, archiving) and strengthens cross-border enforceability.
Will EUDI Wallet be mandatory to sign electronically?
No. EUDI Wallet is an additional means of authenticating the signer, not the only one. Current methods (email + SMS OTP, video identification, certificate on card) remain valid. EUDI Wallet simply becomes the default option, simple and recognized across the EU, for signers who wish to use it. Companies can continue to offer multiple authentication methods.
What is the difference between remote qualified signature and card-based qualified signature?
Traditional qualified signature stores the signer's private key on a smart card or USB token inserted into a reader connected to the signer's computer. Remote QES stores the private key in a secure hardware module (HSM) with a qualified provider, and the signer triggers it via strong authentication (MFA + biometrics). Legal value is identical. In practice, remote QES removes the friction of transporting hardware and enables mobile signing.
From what date does eIDAS 2.0 apply to French companies?
The regulation entered into force on 20 May 2024 and is directly applicable in France without transposition. Immediately enforceable provisions are in place. Technical provisions requiring implementing acts (EUDI Wallet, interoperability standards) are rolling out until 2026-2027. For common uses (signing a contract, filing an invoice), nothing changes before EUDI Wallet deployment in June 2026.
Do I need to change electronic signature provider to be eIDAS 2.0 compliant?
Not necessarily. Most eIDAS 1.0-compliant providers (including Certyneo) remain eIDAS 2.0-compliant — backward compatibility is guaranteed. However, verify that your provider plans to integrate EUDI Wallet as an authentication method (mandatory for organizations targeting public sector and large accounts in 2026-2027) and qualified electronic archiving if your contracts have a retention period exceeding 5 years.
Does eIDAS 2.0 affect 2026 electronic invoicing?
Indirectly. France's electronic invoicing reform (September 2026) requires an electronic seal or reliable audit trail to guarantee the origin and integrity of each invoice. eIDAS 2.0 strengthens the framework for electronic seals (particularly qualified ones) and facilitates cross-border enforceability of sealed invoices — a critical point for companies invoicing across multiple EU countries.

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