Brussels, 1 July 2026 – The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach on the proposal for the European Business Wallet on 9 June 2026. The move keeps the legislation on track for a political agreement before the end of 2026, as requested by EU leaders in March 2026. The European Business Wallet Council position now forms the mandate the Council will use to negotiate with the European Parliament.
What the Council decided
The European Business Wallet builds on the eIDAS2 framework and is meant to give companies a harmonised digital tool to identify themselves across borders, sign documents and exchange data with public and private parties. Businesses will be able to prove their identity digitally, create and share trusted documents such as licences and certificates instantly, sign and seal documents electronically, delegate authority to representatives, and communicate securely with other businesses or public administrations.
Nicodemos Damianou, Deputy Minister for Research, Innovation and Digital Policy of Cyprus, which currently holds the Council presidency, called the agreement an important step towards the EU’s ‘One Europe, One Market’ roadmap. According to Damianou, businesses should be able to operate across the single market as seamlessly as they do within their own member state.
Changes compared to the original proposal
The Council amended the Commission’s initial proposal on several points. European Business Wallets must complement rather than replace existing national B2B and B2G systems, giving member states more room to keep their own infrastructure. Digital actions carried out through a wallet gain the same legal status as paper-based processes, but national administrative and procedural requirements remain fully applicable. The Council also clarified that the new authorisation rules do not affect existing powers of attorney or legal mandates under national or Union law.
On cybersecurity, the bar has been raised for European Business Wallet providers. National supervisory authorities now have up to 60 days, instead of the initially proposed 30, to review authorisation applications from providers. The Commission must also adopt implementing acts specifying exactly what documentation aspiring providers need to submit, and national supervisory bodies gain a stronger role in cases of systemic non-compliance.
Oversight and a new European digital directory
Beyond the cybersecurity changes, the Council’s position also confirms that the European Commission will set up, operate and maintain a European Digital Directory: a web application combining a machine-readable interface for system-to-system communication with a web-based portal for verified and authorised users. The Commission will also supervise EU entities that act as wallet providers themselves. Within three years of the regulation entering into force, the Commission must also assess whether its scope needs adjusting, and whether use of the European Business Wallet should eventually become mandatory for economic operators.
What this means for businesses
Nothing changes for businesses in the short term. The Council’s position is a negotiating mandate, not final law. Still, the direction matters: once the regulation enters into force, member states will have 24 months to require public administrations to accept European Business Wallets for core functionalities, with an extra year for more complex features. Businesses are not obliged to use the wallet, but companies already working with Peppol-based e-invoicing are building the same digital infrastructure the European Business Wallet is likely to connect to.
The next step is for the European Parliament to finalise its own position, after which formal trilogue negotiations between the Council, Parliament and Commission can begin. Peppol.nu is following this process and will keep you updated on developments towards the political agreement expected by the end of 2026.
Considering an investment in Peppol-based e-invoicing? Use our comparison tool to find a suitable Peppol Service Provider. Also read our earlier article on how the European Business Wallet connects architecturally to e-invoicing.
