NEWS

An increasing number of third countries are keen on aligning with eIDAS. As a first step towards alignment, the European Commission usually recommends a technical feasibility pilot. That is why it launched the "Pilot for the International Compatibility of Trust Services". 12.03.2021

The European Commission introduced the new "EU Trust Services Dashboard", that unifies and centralises the CEF eSignature building block tools and information related to the eIDAS trust services backbone. 05.03.2021

SEALED contributed to the following eIDAS reports recently published by ENISA on guidance for (qualified) trust service providers. 16.02.2021:

28.07.2020: The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the eIDAS Regulation: It will be open until 2 October 2020 and will take into account the latest technological and policy developments.

20.07.2020: The European Commission ran a pilot project on Qualified Web Authentication Certificates (QWACs): It demonstrated how to implement QWACs, which authenticate websites by providing trusted information about the identity of persons or legal entities behind a website, through an implementation that decouples QWACs into an attribute certificate and a base certificate, which are cryptographically linked.

01.06.2020: SEALED is a "Private Sector" member of the "Arab-African eCertification Authorities Network" AAECA-Net.

14.02.2020: SEALED contributed to two eIDAS reports recently published by ENISA :

17.01.2020: ETSI released the ETSI TR 103 684 report addressing existing trust service infrastructures that operate in different regions of the world and their possible mutual recognition/global acceptance. It identifies ways to facilitate cross recognition between EU trust services and trust services from other schemes.

14.12.2018: ENISA published a report presenting aspects of QSCD certification and QTSP supervision to identify the way to combine respective elements therein, in line with the eIDAS requirements. This report seeks to assess standards CEN EN 419 241-2 and CEN EN 419 221-5:2018 so that they could be referenced in an amended version of CID (EU) 2016/650.

28.11.2018: SEALED is a member of the International Mutual Recognition Technical Working Group (IMRT-WG), lead by the Keio University and presented at the 7th International Cybersecurity Symposium, in Keio (Japan).

28.08.2014: The eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 July 2014 on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market and repealing Directive 1999/93/EC has been published in the Official Journal of the EU.

29.01.2014: ENISA has published today a series of new studies about the current security practices of Trust Service Providers (TSPs) and recommendations for improving cross-border trustworthiness and interoperability for the new regulated TSPs and for e-Government services using them. Access to the press release and to the reports.

19.09.2013: The European Commission has published the IAS 1 report “Feasibility Study on an Electronic Identification, Authentication and Signature Policy (IAS)” on the Europa site. A copy of the report can be downloaded here.

04.09.2013: From September 2013, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) will start to use digital signatures systematically in outgoing documents that currently require a legally binding signature. This will start with documents related to scientific advice for human medicines, to orphan medicines and to paediatric-medicine procedures.The Agency will also provide certified PDF electronic application forms to allow companies to sign these forms digitally using a PDF reader application, if they wish to do so. The EMA will only accept digital signatures that are supported by Qualified Certificates that may be derived from the European Commission’s list of supervisory bodies (LOTL). More info.

01.08.2013: -By invitation only- SEALED is pleased to invite you to participate in a workshop on electronic identification and trust services that we are organising in the context of the "IAS Study #2" contracted by the European Commission to our consortium. The EC adopted in June 2012 a proposal for a "Regulation on electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market" which includes electronic identification, electronic signatures, electronic seals, electronic time stamps, electronic documents and website authentication, as well as electronic delivery services.The purpose of the workshop will be to collect and discuss feedback from stakeholders on the implementing needs relating to the forthcoming Regulation (delegated and implementing acts).The workshop will take place on Wednesday 25 September 2013 in the EC premises in Brussels.

26.04.2012: SEALED contributed, as part of the e-Tendering Expert Group (e-TEG), to the development of a “blueprint” for an ideal pre-award e-Procurement system that ensures wide accessibility including cross-border, SME inclusiveness, wide interoperability, transparency, traceability and accountability. Using this blueprint as a model, the Expert Group presents recommendations targeted at contracting authorities, policy makers or software developers that aim at simplifying the way e-procurement is conducted, particularly for SMEs and cross-border suppliers. You can download the e-TEG report from here !

02.10.2012: KECCAK as been selected as the new SHA-3 hash algorithm by NIST. KECCAK was designed by a team of four cryptographers from Belgium (3) and Italy (1). More information here !

09.09.2012: The second Workshop on a EU future identification, authentication and signature policy was organised in Brussels on September 5th 2012 at the request of the European Commission. You can find the presentations here !

09.07.2012: The second Workshop on a EU future identification, authentication and signature policy will be organised in Brussels on September 5th 2012 at the request of the European Commission. Your personal invitation here !

04.06.2012: The European Commission adopted a proposal for a Regulation "on electronic identification and trusted services for electronic transactions in the internal market". The proposal will now go through the ordinary legislative procedure for its adoption by co-decision of the European Parliament and the Council.

03.10.2011: The Workshop on a EU future identification, authentication and signature policy that we organised in Brussels on October 3rd 2011 at the request of the European Commission was a great success. You will soon find more information on the project website www.iasproject.eu !

01.10.2011: Making eSignatures easy ! A new website came live with regards to standardisation and implementation aspects of electronic signatures www.e-signatures-standards.eu

05.09.2011:We are pleased to invite you to participate in a Workshop on a EU future identification, authentication and signature policy that we are organising at the request of the European Commission. The workshop will be held in Brussels on October 3rd 2011 from 9h30 until 17h00. The workshop will take place at European Commission, DG Information Society & Media, Avenue de Beaulieu 25, 1160 Brussels (BU25 room O/S1). More information and How to Register !

10.08.2011: The joint ETSI-CEN Specialist Task Force (STF) on the Rationalised Framework for Electronic Signature Standardisation, supported under EU Standardisation Mandate 460, has produced a draft document for public review.

This is available for download at the ETSI STF 425 homepage. The document proposes a rationalised framework for electronic signature standardisation providing a coherent basis for selection of standards appropriate to business needs. A separate annex contains an inventory of existing standardisation at the International, European and national/sector level. Comments on the Rationalised Framework and suggested additions to the inventory are welcomed and may be submitted by email as indicated in the ETSI STF 425 homepage.

June 2011: European Parliament published a Digital Internal Market study that examines the progress towards a digital internal market.

In a first part, it focuses on the state of play and the possible revision of the Directive on electronic signatures. A second part describes the state of play with respect to eProcurement and discusses possible steps to advance use of eProcurement in practice.

26.02.2011: European Commission published Commission Decision CD 2011/130/EU establishing minimum requirements for the cross-border processing of documents signed electronically by competent authorities under Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on services in the internal market.

18.02.2011: EC launched a public consultation on the future of 1999/93/EC eSignature Directive and cross-border eID & eAuthentication solutions.

Through its Digital Agenda for Europe (COM(2010)245 of 19 May 2010), the European Commission aims to deliver sustainable economic and social benefits from a digital single market based on fast and ultra fast internet and interoperable applications.
Key actions 3 and 6 described below are related to cross-border electronic signatures, e-ientificaton and e-authentication solutions.
  • Key action 3: “The Commission will propose in 2011 a revision of the eSignature Directive with a viewto provide a legal framework for cross-border recognition and interoperability of secure eAuthentication systems”
  • Key action 16: “The Commission will propose by 2012 a Council and Parliament Decisionto ensure mutual recognition of e-identification and e-authentication across the EU based on online 'authentication services' to be offered in all Member States (which may use the most appropriate official citizen documents – issued by the public or the private sector)”
The first concrete action to be undertaken by the European Commission is the launch of a public consultation aiming to gather stakeholders views on:
  • Citizens, businesses, administrations and other organisations needs for easy access and secure transactions
  • How good is the existing situation
  • What could be solutions –including R&D needs
Public consultation is available on “Your Voice in Europe”.

31.07.2010: CROBIES final reports are out now and available from here.
The CROBIES study looked at eSignature interoperability in general, but specifically in the context of cross-border use. While considering a consistent global and long term approach in proposed improvements at the legal, technical and trust levels, CROBIES also focused on quick wins that could substantially improve the interoperability of electronic signatures.

28.07.2010: Commission Decision 2010/425/EU is amending Commission Decision 2009/767/EC setting up Community framework requirements on Trusted Lists for supervised/accredited Certification Service Providers.
SEALED, together with Siemens and time.lex, is proud to announce that the contribution of the CROBIES study on Trusted Lists has recently lead to the accomplishment of a significant step towards interoperable and cross-border use of (qualified) electronic signatures!

29.03.2010: The final draft reports of the CROBIES Study are out now for consultation.

16.10.2009: Commission Decision 2009/767/EC is setting up Community framework requirements on Trusted Lists for supervised/accredited Certification Service Providers, in particular those issuing Qualified Certificates.
SEALED, together with Siemens and time.lex, is proud to announce that the contribution of the CROBIES study on Trusted Lists has recently lead to the adoption of a Commission Decision stating common requirements for establishing, publishing, and managing the so-called Member States national Trusted Lists i.e. Supervision/Accreditation Status Lists of certification services from Certification Service Providers, which are supervised/accredited by the referenced Member State for compliance with the relevant provisions laid down in Directive 1999/93/EC. Definitely a significant step towards interoperable and cross-border use of (qualified) electronic signatures! You can download this Commission Decision of 16 October 2009 setting out measures facilitating the use of procedures by electronic means through the ‘points of single contact’ under Directive 2006/123/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on services in the internal market by clicking here.

01.09.2008: SEALED to assist the European Commission in its study on cross-border interoperability of eSignatures.
SEALED, together with Siemens and time.lex, will perform for the European Commission a study analysing the actions necessary to a truly interoperable cross-border use of Qualified Electronic Signatures.

The objective of the project is to analyse the requirements in terms of cross border use of electronic signatures to establish a general strategy based on common requirements aiming at cross border interoperability of qualified electronic signatures and advanced electronic signature based on qualified certificates. This study shall be based on and take into account the relevant provisions of Directive 1999/93/EC of 13 December 1999 on a Community framework for electronic signatures and their national implementation as well as the standardisation work based on the Directive.

On the basis of the existing work and studies, the Study shall provide for each of the defined work packages (supervision/accreditation status list of Qualified Certification Service Providers established in EU Member States, Advanced Electronic Signature reference format(s), Qualified Certificate Profile, SSCD profile, Supervision scheme common minimum requirements), an assessment of the existing situation, the common target and an implementation plan to achieve the target.

The results of the Study should fit into the longer term perspective of the possible creation of a European (Federated) Validation Service. To this end the results of the Study may be used as input for a study on the legal, operational and technical requirements of such Validation Service in the event such a service would be necessary.

05.06.2008: SEALED in the News. One page article in Datanews electronic edition. See also the paper version.

10.03.2008: Press Release - Digital Identity Standards (DIS) Group publishes guidelines for Belgian electronic identity cards (eID) applications.

28.02.2008: DIS Book "Best Practice for Applications using the electronic Identity Card (eID)" is now available. More info here.

22.11.2007: The final report of the Study on the standardisation aspects of eSignatures conducted by SEALED is available here.

21.05.2007: For the European Commission, SEALED, DLA Piper and Across Communications are conducting a Public Survey on eSignatures standardisation aspects. This online survey aims to establish objective findings reflecting the market needs in this area. We urge you not to miss this opportunity to make your own contribution to a revamped eSignatures standardisation scheme for Europe. www.esstandardisation.eu.

16.06.2006: SEALED presents its patent pending method to reconcile citizen eID schemes and Business identity needs in Barcelona, Spain, during "The European e-Identity Conference" organised by EEMA. More information.

14.03.2006: SEALED announces DIS-Institute to the public, the Digital Identity Standardisation initiative around the Belgian eID, together with other co-founders and L-SEC. Learn more !