The ESC adopted an analysis of the European Digital Identity Portfolio
At its plenary session, the Economic and Social Council adopted an analysis focusing on the introduction of the European Digital Identity Portfolio in Bulgaria. The document examines the opportunities, challenges, and necessary steps for the successful implementation of the new European system, which must be available to citizens and businesses in all European Union member states by the end of 2026.
The analysis defines the European Digital Identity Portfolio as a strategic infrastructure that will enable citizens to securely verify their identity and access public and private services throughout the European Union using a single mobile app. It will enable the storage and use of electronic documents such as ID cards, driver’s licenses, diplomas, bank statements, and electronic prescriptions.
The document emphasizes that the introduction of the digital wallet is an opportunity for Bulgaria to accelerate the digital transformation of its public administration, reduce the administrative burden, and improve the business environment. For businesses, this means faster service, lower administrative costs, and easier access to the single European digital market.
Monika Panayotova, the report’s author and a member of the ESC from the Employers’ Group (BCCI), commented on the program “Bulgaria, Europe, and the World in Focus” on Radio Focus that the new tool has the potential to change the way citizens and companies interact with institutions.
“Bulgaria can catch up in the digital single market—and even become a leader in it—by leveraging its dynamic technology ecosystem. We have exceptional potential in the form of Bulgarian businesses in the fields of software development, cybersecurity, and the fintech sector. “, said Panayotova.
According to the analysis, although Bulgaria has taken the necessary legislative and organizational steps, preparations need to be accelerated. The data show that the country continues to lag behind the European average in the use of electronic identification and e-services, which limits the potential of digital transformation.
The ESC also emphasizes the need to build public trust in the new system. The document notes that the success of the European Digital Identity Portfolio will depend not only on its technical readiness but also on a high level of cybersecurity, the protection of personal data, and clear practical benefits for citizens and businesses.
In her interview, the report’s author, Monika Panayotova, emphasized that security should be viewed in a much broader context than just technological solutions. “It encompasses institutional reliability, public trust, and the shared responsibility of all participants—from the developers who write the code to end users,” she noted.
The analysis also warns of the risk that digital transformation could exacerbate existing inequalities if measures are not taken to support people with low digital skills, older adults, and residents of small communities. Therefore, the ESC recommends maintaining alternative methods of accessing administrative services and conducting an active information campaign to raise public awareness and build trust in the new system.
Among the recommendations is that, as the European Digital Identity Portfolio is being rolled out, institutions, business, social partners, and the civil sector so that the system is reliable, widely used, and delivers real benefits to society and the economy.
