European Union: Commission progress report on electronic signature Directive identifies reluctance to use this tool as a problem for cross-border trade

Source: EC-IPR Newsletter
Date 2006/03/23.

The European Commission recently published a progress report on Directive 1999/93 on a Community framework for electronic signatures.

The report stresses that the 25 Member States have already implemented the Directive in their national legal systems. Therefore, this tool is legally recognised throughout the Community.

Nonetheless, according to the report, there is a reluctance to use electronic signatures. This might slow the growth of cross-border trade in goods and services via the Internet. The Commission expects that the introduction of broader services like e-government, including an option for online income tax returns, will drive the demand for the electronic signature in the future. The development of this tool in the internal market will be under close scrutiny by the Commission in the year to come.

Related Links:

Commission press release

Report on the operation of Directive 1999/93/EC on a Community framework for electronic signatures

Directive 1999/93/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 December 1999 on a Community framework for electronic signatures