Romania advances towards the European Digital Identity Wallet

Romania is gearing up for the implementation of the European Digital Identity Wallet, a significant step towards enhancing digital identity verification. The official website for RO Wallet has recently been launched, paving the way for the app's expected release in January 2027.

All member states of the European Union are required to implement this digital identity solution. The Romanian government has decided to adopt and adapt an open-source solution developed by Germany over the past three years, which will not only streamline identity verification but is projected to save the country between 20-30 million euros.

Mădălina Marcu, the Secretary of State and coordinator of the working group for the project, emphasized that Romania is partnering with Germany to utilize this free-developed solution. However, Romania does not have access to the billions of euros allocated by the German federal government for the digital wallet's implementation.

Melany Pașca, the public policy manager at Edge Institute, highlighted the significant investment of time and resources made by Germany in developing this solution. She also underlined the importance of having qualified personnel within the government to effectively adapt the solution for Romanian needs.

The digital wallet will serve as a secure method for identity verification, with public institutions mandated to accept it. Notably, ten digital rights organizations raised concerns in 2023 regarding excessive data collection related to such technologies.

Melany Pașca reiterated that the digital wallet represents the safest infrastructure for proving identity in the digital realm. She pointed out that the most dangerous practice concerning data security remains the photocopying of identity cards. The wallet is built upon a coherent European infrastructure and requires certification, ensuring that users and the European Commission are notified in the event of any security issues. If these problems are not resolved, the wallet will lose its certification.

Overall, the digital wallet is viewed as the best solution for protecting personal data, marking an important milestone for Romania in the digital age.