...
The first section of the eIDAS Regulation relates to the government-recognized eIDs and establishes a legal framework that will allow all EU countries to recognize each other’s eIDs. The second section of eIDAS deals with the various electronic signatures (i.e. simple, advanced and qualified). It clarifies existing rules, but also introduces a new legal framework for electronic signatures, seals and timestamps. The new legal framework is not mandatory but introduces certain requirements that can be followed in order to grant greater legal certainty and to improve the reliability of these services.
Furthermore, the eIDAS Regulation draws a distinction between the parties providing the electronic signatures: qualified and non-qualified trust service providers. The eIDAS Regulation sets forth certain requirements that the qualified trust service providers must adhere to. Furthermore, each EU country is required to ‘establish, maintain and publish trusted lists, including information related to the qualified trust service providers for which it is responsible, together with information related to the qualified trust services provided by them’.
For the purpose of the iSHARE Scheme, the governing body will determine which eID providers are to be used, which trust service providers are to be engaged and the roles these trust service providers have within the iSHARE Scheme. The selection of eIDAS eID and trust service providers is also relevant for the international orientation of the iSHARE Scheme and to foster the cross-border interoperability of electronic trust services.