opinion parliamentary committee draft, 24 March 2026
On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the establishment of European Business Wallets
Document IMCO-PA-786736 · (COM(2025)0838 – C100305/2025 – 2025/0358(COD))
Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection · Rapporteur: Veronika Cifrová Ostrihoňová
AI:In short
This is the Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee's draft opinion on the proposed regulation establishing European Business Wallets, submitted to the Industry, Research and Energy Committee. It proposes 23 amendments to the Commission proposal. The amendments add that public authorities' early use of the wallets should encourage small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders and self-employed persons to adopt them, and that the wallets should be accessible, affordable and easy to use for these operators. They require interoperability between the wallets and existing EU and national systems, open and interoperable standards allowing users to switch providers, and a publicly available list of notified providers updated without undue delay. They also require providers to be established in the Union and not controlled by a third country, add a complaint mechanism for supervisory bodies, and require annual reporting by the Commission to Parliament and the Council.
Position. The committee proposes 23 amendments to the Commission proposal, adding safeguards for small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders and self-employed persons, interoperability and open standards requirements, Union establishment and control conditions for providers, a complaint mechanism, and annual reporting obligations.
Key points
- Recital 5 would require compatibility between the various European Business Wallets and between them and existing Union and national systems, using existing EU digital infrastructures where technically appropriate.
- A new recital 10a states that early use of the wallets by public authorities could encourage economic operators, including small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders and self-employed persons, to adopt them.
- A new recital 13a says particular attention should be given to small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders and self-employed persons, and that the wallets should not create disproportionate burdens and should be accessible, affordable and easy to use.
- Recital 19 would add that economic operators may continue to use other legally valid means of identifying, authenticating, submitting documents and receiving notifications.
- Recital 20 would require the Commission, when defining technical requirements, to keep them technologically neutral and adaptable to technological developments, including emerging technologies, and to take international standards and best practices into account.
- Recital 21 would add healthcare to the sectors in which the wallets should enable sector-specific use cases.
- A new recital 33a states that technical standards and protocols should rely on open and interoperable standards so that economic operators can switch providers without undue barriers and keep their data, credentials and attestations usable.
- Recital 41 would require the Commission's list of notified providers to be updated without undue delay, and would deem notification complete where the competent supervisory body does not respond substantively within the prescribed period.
- Recital 54 would allow the Commission, where appropriate, to take reciprocal arrangements with third countries into account when assessing their frameworks.
- Article 5(5) would require the Commission's implementing acts to cover the implementation and interoperability of the core functionalities, and Article 7(2) would require providers to be established in the Union and not directly or indirectly controlled by a third country or third-country entity.
- Articles 10 and 12 would require the European Digital Directory to be secure and accessible only to wallet owners, their authorised representatives and providers, and the list of providers to be machine-readable and updated without undue delay.
- Supervisory bodies would have to set up a complaint mechanism for substantiated complaints, particularly from wallet owners, and report annually to the Commission; the Commission would report annually to Parliament and the Council.
Who is affected
- Small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders and self-employed persons: the wallets should be accessible, affordable and easy to use, without disproportionate burdens.
- Providers of European Business Wallets: they must be established in the Union, not be controlled by a third country, and follow open and interoperable standards.
- Public sector bodies: they must have European Business Wallets and may use them for additional purposes.
- National supervisory bodies: they must set up a complaint mechanism and report annually to the Commission.
- Economic operators established outside the Union: they may be issued wallet owner identification data without undue delay after successful identity verification.
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AMENDMENT
The Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection submits the following to the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy, as the committee responsible:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (5) In order to enhance the functioning of the digital single market, ensure interoperability and reduce administrative burdens, it is essential to ensure compatibility between and European Business Wallets and existing systems and solutions at both Union and national level. As prescribed by the Interoperable Europe Act and to enhance secure and efficient data exchanges across the Union, the implementation of the European Business Wallets should, to the extent possible, where appropriate and following technical analysis, make use of existing EU digital infrastructures and building blocks, including those developed under the Once Only Technical System, the Business Registers Interconnection System and the European Digital Identity Wallet, thereby ensuring complementarity, interoperability, and efficient use of public resources. | (5) In order to enhance the functioning of the digital single market, ensure interoperability and reduce administrative burdens, it is essential to ensure compatibility between the various European Business Wallets as well as between the European Business Wallets and existing systems and solutions at both Union and national level. As prescribed by the Interoperable Europe Act and to enhance secure and efficient data exchanges across the Union, the implementation of the European Business Wallets should, following appropriate technical analysis, make use of existing EU digital infrastructures and building blocks, including those developed under the Once Only Technical System, the Business Registers Interconnection System and the European Digital Identity Wallet, thereby ensuring complementarity, interoperability, and efficient use of public resources. |
Or. en
Amendment 2
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 10 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (10a) The early and effective use of European Business Wallets by public authorities could encourage economic operators, including small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders and self-employed persons, to adopt and use those wallets in their interactions with public authorities and with other economic operators, thereby contributing to the effective functioning of the internal market and reducing administrative burden. |
Or. en
Read the rest (105 paragraphs)
Amendment 3
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (13a) In order to maximise the benefits of administrative simplification and promote the uptake of European Business Wallets across the Union, particular attention should be given to the needs of small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders and self-employed persons. The use of European Business Wallets should not create disproportionate financial, administrative or other burdens for such economic operators compared to larger companies. European Business Wallets should therefore be accessible, affordable and easy to use. |
Or. en
Amendment 4
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 19
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (19) In order to facilitate the conduct of cross-border business transactions, reduce administrative burdens, and promote economic growth, it is necessary to establish a clear and predictable legal framework that recognises the legal equivalence between the use of the European Business Wallets, or their core functionalities and the secure communication channel where the latter is used by self-employed persons and sole traders, and other accepted methods for economic operators to identify, authenticate, submit documents and receive notifications when interacting with public sector bodies in the Union. To that end, the use of the core functionalities of a European Business Wallet, or the secure communication channel where the latter is used by self-employed persons and sole traders, should have the same legal effect as if lawfully carried out in person, in paper form, or via any other means or process that would otherwise be deemed compliant with applicable legal, administrative, or procedural requirements. | (19) In order to facilitate the conduct of cross-border business transactions, reduce administrative burdens, and promote economic growth, it is necessary to establish a clear and predictable legal framework that recognises the legal equivalence between the use of the European Business Wallets, or their core functionalities and the secure communication channel where the latter is used by self-employed persons and sole traders, and other accepted methods for economic operators to identify, authenticate, submit documents and receive notifications when interacting with public sector bodies in the Union. To that end, the use of the core functionalities of a European Business Wallet, or the secure communication channel where the latter is used by self-employed persons and sole traders, should have the same legal effect as if lawfully carried out in person, in paper form, or via any other means or process that would otherwise be deemed compliant with applicable legal, administrative, or procedural requirements. This should not prevent economic operators from continuing to use other legally valid means of carrying out such actions, where permitted under applicable law. |
Or. en
Amendment 5
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 20
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (20) To ensure a consistent user experience and to guarantee the utility, reliability, and interoperability of European Business Wallets across the Union, providers of European Business Wallets should implement a core set of functionalities. They should retain the freedom to offer additional features as part of their commercial offering, fostering innovation and responding to market needs. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the development and use of the core functionalities, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to set out requirements and technical specifications necessary to ensure interoperability and seamless functioning across the Union. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council(7 ) and should include the powers to define the necessary standards and protocols for the secure communication channel, taking into account the latest technological developments. | (20) To ensure a consistent user experience and to guarantee the utility, reliability, and interoperability of European Business Wallets across the Union, providers of European Business Wallets should implement a core set of functionalities. They should retain the freedom to offer additional features as part of their commercial offering, fostering innovation and responding to market needs. In order to ensure uniform conditions for the development and use of the core functionalities, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to set out requirements and technical specifications necessary to ensure interoperability and seamless functioning across the Union. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and the Council(7 ) and should include the powers to define the necessary standards and protocols for the secure communication channel. When defining those requirements and technical specifications, the Commission should ensure that they remain technologically neutral and adaptable to technological developments, including emerging technologies, and take relevant international standards and best practices into account. |
| 7 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/182/oj). | 7 Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2011/182/oj). |
Or. en
Amendment 6
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 21
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (21) European Business Wallets should simplify the complex interactions between economic operators and public sector bodies, and could also facilitate interactions among economic operators themselves, reducing administrative burden on economic operators in a broad range of economic sectors. In order to foster innovation and competitiveness, the European Business Wallets should enable sector-specific use cases and enhance operational efficiencies, while ensuring flexibility and adaptability to support the unique requirements of different sectors, including, but not limited to, agriculture, energy, environment, social security coordination. | (21) European Business Wallets should simplify the complex interactions between economic operators and public sector bodies, and could also facilitate interactions among economic operators themselves, reducing administrative burden on economic operators in a broad range of economic sectors. In order to foster innovation and competitiveness, the European Business Wallets should enable sector-specific use cases and enhance operational efficiencies, while ensuring flexibility and adaptability to support the unique requirements of different sectors, including, but not limited to, agriculture, energy, environment, healthcare and social security coordination. |
Or. en
Amendment 7
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 33 a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (33a) In order to foster innovation, competition and user choice in the market for European Business Wallet providers, the technical standards and protocols underpinning the European Business Wallet ecosystem should rely on open and interoperable standards. Such standards should ensure that economic operators can easily switch between different providers of European Business Wallets without undue technical or administrative barriers, while ensuring that their data, credentials and electronic attestations of attributes remain usable and interoperable across the ecosystem. |
Or. en
Amendment 8
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 41
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (41) In order to ensure transparency and accountability in the European Business Wallet ecosystem, a publicly available list of notified providers of European Business Wallets should be established and maintained by the Commission. That list should include information transmitted by the national supervisory bodies concerning providers, including qualified trust service providers, that have completed the notification process. Making that information publicly available should enable users to verify the authenticity and trustworthiness of providers, thereby promoting a high level of security and trust in the European Business Wallet ecosystem. | (41) In order to ensure transparency and accountability in the European Business Wallet ecosystem, a publicly available list of notified providers of European Business Wallets should be established and maintained by the Commission. That list should include information transmitted by the national supervisory bodies concerning providers, including qualified trust service providers, that have completed the notification process. Making that information publicly available should enable users to verify the authenticity and trustworthiness of providers, thereby promoting a high level of security and trust in the European Business Wallet ecosystem. That list should be updated without undue delay following the completion of the notification process in order to ensure legal certainty for entities intending to provide European Business Wallets and for users of such services. In order to avoid unnecessary delays and ensure legal certainty for market participants, where the competent supervisory body does not provide a substantive response within the prescribed period, the notification should be deemed complete, and the description of the core functionalities should be considered to correspond to the requirements laid down in this Regulation. In such cases, the notifying entity should be added to the list of providers of European Business Wallets maintained by the Commission. |
Or. en
Amendment 9
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 54
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (54) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the recognition and interoperability of business wallets or similar systems and framework from third countries to support and promote partnerships and cooperation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to set the conditions under which such similar systems or framework benefit from the provisions of this Regulation. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council. | (54) In order to ensure uniform conditions for the implementation of the recognition and interoperability of business wallets or similar systems and framework from third countries to support and promote partnerships and cooperation, implementing powers should be conferred on the Commission to set the conditions under which such similar systems or framework benefit from the provisions of this Regulation. Those powers should be exercised in accordance with Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The Commission should be able, where appropriate, to take into account the development of reciprocal arrangements with the relevant third countries when assessing the frameworks, in order to reduce administrative burden and facilitate cross-border economic activity, while ensuring compliance with Union requirements. |
Or. en
Amendment 10
Proposal for a regulation
Article 5 – paragraph 5
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, establish a list of reference standards and where necessary, establish specifications and procedures for the core functionalities of European Business Wallets referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 19. | 5. The Commission shall, by means of implementing acts, establish a list of reference standards and where necessary, establish specifications and procedures required for the implementation and interoperability of the core functionalities of European Business Wallets referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 19. |
Or. en
Amendment 11
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. Given the role of European Business Wallets in the Unions digital infrastructure, providers of European Business Wallets shall be established in the Union, have their principal place of business and main operations in the Union and not present a risk to the security of the Union. In particular they shall not be subject to control by a third country or by a third-country entity. | 2. Given the role of European Business Wallets in the Unions digital infrastructure, providers of European Business Wallets shall be established in the Union, have their principal place of business and main operations in the Union and not present a risk to the security of the Union. In particular they shall not be directly or indirectly controlled by a third country or by a third-country entity. |
Or. en
Amendment 12
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. The Commission shall ensure that the relevant information shall be included in the European Digital Directory. | 3. The Commission shall ensure that the relevant information is included in the European Digital Directory in a secure manner and in accordance with the relevant data protection principles. |
Or. en
Amendment 13
Proposal for a regulation
Article 10 – paragraph 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. The Commission shall make the European Digital Directory only accessible to European Business Wallet owners and their authorised representatives and providers of European Business Wallets. | 4. The Commission shall make the web-based interface of the European Digital Directory only accessible to European Business Wallet owners and their authorised representatives and providers of European Business Wallets. |
Or. en
Amendment 14
Proposal for a regulation
Article 12 – paragraph 3
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 3. On the basis of the information received pursuant to this Article, the Commission shall establish and maintain on the Commission’s website, in a machine-readable format, a list of providers of European Business Wallets. | 3. On the basis of the information received pursuant to this Article, the Commission shall establish and maintain on the Commission’s website, in a machine-readable format, a list of providers of European Business Wallets and update that list without undue delay following receipt of such information. |
Or. en
Amendment 15
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 5 – point b
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (b) investigate substantiated claims, particularly those made by European Business Wallets owners, that a provider of European Business Wallets fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Regulation and to take action if necessary; | (b) set up a complaint mechanism whereby substantiated complaints can be filed, particularly by European Business Wallets owners, that a provider of European Business Wallets fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Regulation, investigate such complaints and take action if necessary; |
Or. en
Amendment 16
Proposal for a regulation
Article 13 – paragraph 5 – point j
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (j) report to the Commission on its main activities; | (j) report annually to the Commission on its main activities; |
Or. en
Amendment 17
Proposal for a regulation
Article 15 – paragraph 3 – subparagraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| The Commission shall prepare a report on its main activities in this respect. | The Commission shall prepare an annual report on its main activities in this respect and submit it to the European Parliament and to the Council. |
Or. en
Amendment 18
Proposal for a regulation
Article 16 – paragraph 2
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, points (c) and (d), public sector bodies shall have European Business Wallets, including the qualified electronic registered delivery service referred to in Article 5(1), point (i). | 2. For the purposes of paragraph 1, points (c) and (d) of this Article, public sector bodies shall have European Business Wallets, including the qualified electronic registered delivery service referred to in Article 5(1), point (i). Public sector bodies may also make use of European Business Wallets for the purposes referred to in paragraph 1, points (a) and (b) of this Article. |
Or. en
Amendment 19
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 4
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 4. The Commission shall, where available information reveals that those assurances can no longer be considered as equivalent to the requirements under this Regulation, to the extent necessary, repeal, amend or suspend the act referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 by means of an implementing act. | 4. The Commission shall review, on an annual basis, whether those assurances can be considered as equivalent to the requirements under this Regulation. Where the results of that review or other available information reveal that this is no longer the case, the Commission shall, to the extent necessary, repeal, amend or suspend the act referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 by means of an implementing act. |
Or. en
Amendment 20
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 5 – introductory part
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 5. Providers of European Business Wallet owner identification data may issue European Business Wallet owner identification data and unique identifiers pursuant to Articles 8 and 9 to economic operators established outside the Union, provided that: | 5. Providers of European Business Wallet owner identification data may issue European Business Wallet owner identification data and unique identifiers without undue delay following successful identity verification pursuant to Articles 8 and 9 to economic operators established outside the Union, provided that: |
Or. en
Amendment 21
Proposal for a regulation
Article 18 – paragraph 6
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| 6. Member States shall cooperate to ensure that providers of European Business Wallet owner identification data can verify that an economic operator established outside the Union has not yet been issued European Business Wallet owner identification data. | 6. Member States shall cooperate, including through the exchange of relevant information and through the use of Union-level systems established under this Regulation, to ensure that providers of European Business Wallet owner identification data can verify that an economic operator established outside the Union has not yet been issued European Business Wallet owner identification data. |
Or. en
Amendment 22
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d a (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (da) the effectiveness of cooperation between supervisory bodies in the Member States and with the Commission in the implementation and supervision of this Regulation; |
Or. en
Amendment 23
Proposal for a regulation
Article 21 – paragraph 2 – subparagraph 1 – point d b (new)
| Text proposed by the Commission | Amendment |
|---|---|
| (db) a review of financial, administrative or other possible impact on small and medium-sized enterprises, sole traders and self-employed persons. |
Or. en
Annex: declaration of input 4 paragraphs
Pursuant to Article 8 of Annex I to the Rules of Procedure, the rapporteur declares that she included in her report input on matters pertaining to the subject of the file that she received, in the preparation of the draft report, from the following interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register, or from the following representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies:
| 1. Interest representatives falling within the scope of the Interinstitutional Agreement on a mandatory transparency register |
| Digital Europe |
| 2. Representatives of public authorities of third countries, including their diplomatic missions and embassies |
| Permanent representation of the Slovak Republic to the EU |
| Permanent representation of the Czech Republic to the EU |
The list above is drawn up under the exclusive responsibility of the rapporteur(s).
Where natural persons are identified in the list by their name, by their function or by both, the rapporteur declares that she has submitted to the natural persons concerned the European Parliament’s Data Protection Notice No 484 (https://www.europarl.europa.eu/data-protect/index.do), which sets out the conditions applicable to the processing of their personal data and the rights linked to that processing.