Irrespective of Brexit, the new EU regulation for electronic
identification and e-signatures (the "eIDAS Regulation")
came into effect in the UK on 1 July 2016
repealing the e-signatures directive (Directive
1999/93/EC).
The e-signatures directive only dealt with the validity of
electronic signatures and did not provide a complete framework for
secure transactions. In a bid to move ever more towards a Digital
Single Market and harmonise the rules, the regulations expand the
scope of the directive and cover, amongst others, trust services
(services which provide authentication), electronic seals,
electronic time stamps, electronic documents and website
authorisations.
Being a directive, the provisions of the e-signatures directive
did not have direct effect, thus all EU member states were required
to implement national legislation. The eIDAS Regulation shall aim
to harmonize the position of electronic identification and
e-signatures across Europe, whilst enhancing
