Europe is making an impact – especially digitally
Whether it’s cross-border contracts, digital studying or online banking with digital identity: in recent years, the European Union has laid numerous foundations that make our digital lives easier, safer and more efficient. This development is not happening overnight – but as part of a long, steady harmonization process that combines political compromises, technical standards and legal frameworks.
Trust service providers such as Namirial are right at the heart of this. Our technologies and infrastructures ensure that what is decided politically also works in practice: securely, in compliance with data protection regulations and in a user-friendly manner.
Here are 10 concrete examples of how the EU simplifies our lives – either directly or in conjunction with digital trust services.
Goodbye roaming – true freedom in everyday digital life
What is taken for granted today was long a nuisance: high additional costs for using mobile phones in other EU countries. Since 2017, roaming charges have been a thing of the past – a milestone for European consumer policy.
Whether making calls, streaming or sending data, people who live or work across borders benefit enormously. This regulation not only makes life easier for tourists but is also particularly important for commuters who live in Austria, for example, and travel to Germany every day – or vice versa.
EU impact: uniform regulation with direct added value – and a symbol of the tangible benefits of integration.
Qualified electronic signatures – unlimited freedom of contract
The eIDAS Regulation is at the heart of the digital single market: it stipulates that qualified electronic signatures and seals are legally valid throughout the EU – just as if they were signed by hand.
This makes it possible to sign employment contracts, rental agreements, powers of attorney or tender documents across borders in a legally valid manner – even completely remotely. This saves time, postage, travel, and paper.
For trust service providers, this means a special responsibility: we ensure that signatures not only work technically but also meet the highest legal requirements – including identity verification, certificate management and validation infrastructure.
EU impact: Uniform signature standards promote trust and efficiency – for citizens, authorities and businesses.
The European Digital Identity – ID via smartphone
With the new European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet), the EU wants to give citizens the opportunity to identify themselves digitally – both nationally and across borders. It may include, among other things:
- Official identity
- driving licence
- proof of study
- Professional qualifications
- Health insurance number
What many wallets today can only do halfway, the EUDI Wallet aims to achieve fully digitally, while also being privacy-friendly and secure.
Trust service providers supply the necessary basis for this: certificates, proof of identity, verification services, issuance of qualified attributes and cryptographic procedures. This turns smartphones into official sources of identity – fully valid throughout the EU.
EU impact: Those who can identify themselves digitally have easier access to education, the world of work and administration – throughout Europe.
Living, learning, working – mobility without barriers
Programmes such as Erasmus+ and the European Higher Education Area make it possible to study, conduct research or work in other Member States – with mutual recognition of degrees and qualifications.
But this must also work digitally: in future, study certificates and diplomas should be electronically signed and verifiable, for example soon via the EUDI Wallet or blockchain-based verification platforms such as EBSI (European Blockchain Services Infrastructure).
Trust service providers help to make these certificates forgery-proof, interoperable and verifiable in the long term – an enormous relief for educational institutions and companies.
EU impact: Mobility is supported digitally – instead of being hampered by piles of paper.
Cross-border administrative procedures – the Single Digital Gateway
The Single Digital Gateway (“Your Europe”) is intended to bundle information and administrative procedures across Europe – for example, on taxes, social security, starting a business or residence rights.
Citizens should be able to find out with just a few clicks which regulations apply and how digital procedures can be initiated – regardless of whether they work or live in another country.
For this to work, digital identification, secure data transmission and electronic signatures are required – an area in which qualified trust services are indispensable.
EU impact: less bureaucracy, more clarity – and a real lever for cross-border administrative digitisation.
E-commerce without borders – geoblocking is a thing of the past
Since the Geoblocking Regulation came into force, online retailers are no longer allowed to exclude or discriminate against EU citizens from other Member States – for example, through redirects, restricted payment methods or price surcharges.
For consumers, this means more choice, better prices and greater fairness. At the same time, it ensures more competition and transparency in the digital single market.
Trust services make it possible, for example, to issue secure age verifications, proofs of residence or consents in a data protection-compliant form – even for online shops based abroad.
EU impact: One less digital border – and a fair internal market for all.
Digital business start-ups – easier and faster
Starting a business in another EU country used to be a lengthy process involving visits to notaries, certifications, and language barriers. Today, this can be done entirely online in many countries, such as Estonia, Lithuania and Portugal.
eIDAS-compliant signatures and identification solutions make this possible – often within 24 hours. This is a real competitive advantage, especially for start-ups and SMEs.
Trust service providers supply the interfaces, identity checks and certificates to make the procedures secure and legally valid – across borders.
EU impact: More entrepreneurial freedom, less bureaucracy – and a digital market that really works.
Security standards for platforms – transparency and control
With the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, the EU is obliging large platforms to be more fair, transparent, and consumer friendly. Among other things, providers must:
- disclose their recommendation algorithms
- restrict personalized advertising
- remove illegal content
- verify the identity of merchants
This is where digital identity and trust services come into play: they make it possible to verify the authenticity of users, companies or product reviews – without revealing unnecessary data.
EU impact: A safer, fairer digital space – with clear rules and verified identities.
Digital accessibility – usable for everyone, not just a few
The European Accessibility Act stipulates that from 2025 onwards, many digital products and services must be designed to be accessible – from websites and mobile apps to signature solutions.
Trust service providers face the challenge of designing complex security technology in such a way that it remains accessible to older people, people with visual impairments or limited fine motor skills.
This applies to:
- simple user guidance
- screen reader-friendly interfaces
- alternative identity verification methods
EU impact: Digital inclusion becomes mandatory – and trust technology becomes more widely accessible.
Digital identity 2.0 – self-sovereign and interoperable
The future belongs to digital identities that are sovereign, interoperable, and decentralized. The EU is promoting initiatives such as:
- EBSI (European Blockchain Services Infrastructure)
- ESSIF (European Self-Sovereign Identity Framework)
Goal: Citizens should be able to control their identity data themselves, store it securely and share it selectively – without dependence on platforms or states.
In this scenario, trust service providers not only issue certificates, but also accompany the transition to new wallet-based trust models – which improve data protection and strengthen trust.
EU impact: Digital sovereignty in European hands – with a strong focus on security, transparency and user control.
Conclusion: The EU makes life easier – and digital trust services make it possible
The European Union is creating the legal and political conditions for a borderless, digital Europe. But it is only through the technology and infrastructure of trust service providers that these visions can be realised.
We enable secure identification, electronic signatures, digital evidence and legal validity – in all 27 Member States.
And we are convinced that the digital single market is not a sprint. It is a marathon that is worthwhile – for businesses, citizens and administrations alike.
