E-signatures needed to boost the EU’s digital economy

The European Commission (EC) has launched a consultation on how e-signatures and e-identification can be used to boost the EU digital economy.

Low levels of consumer and business confidence when making transactions online is a major factor in holding back the European Digital Single Market, the Commission said.

"I welcome everybody's views on how we can best verify people's identities and signatures when we buy, sell or undertake administrative procedures online that need to be highly secure," said Neelie Kroes, EC vice-president for the Digital Agenda.

"I want to help all Europeans get online without feeling they will fall victim to data frauds or scams," she added.

The Digital Agenda is Europe's strategy for a strong digital economy by 2020, and according to the EC only 12 per cent of European web users feel safe when making online transactions.

Running until 15 April 2011, the consultation seeks feedback on the common set of principles to guide the recognition of e-identification and e-authentication in Europe. It states that the strategy "must work in all member states to be effective".

The EC is also interested in identifying existing barriers, security requirements and the expectations of standardisation.