Beyond DC4EU. Advancing European digital identity through trust frameworks, education and social security pilots

Abstract

Europe's 2026 digital identity mandate is achievable - but only with immediate, decisive action. The Digital Credentials for Europe (DC4EU) project confirmed that the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet ecosystem is technically viable for secure, cross-border use in foundational public domains. Across 101 institutions in 25 countries, we successfully issued and verified high-assurance credentials - digital diplomas, European health insurance cards, and social security coordination documents - across borders. The technology is proven. The architecture is validated. The protocols function reliably under real-world conditions. What prevents deployment at scale is not technology: it is fragmented governance, unsustainable funding, legal uncertainty across Member States, and insufficient coordination. This report, commissioned by the DC4EU Scientific Committee, translates over two years of pilot findings into actionable policy recommendations. The analysis draws on Scientific Committee research, market intelligence from working group participation, weekly Strategic Committee discussions, and systematic barrier analysis across participating institutions. [excerpt]