After two years of contributing to the testing of the European Digital Identity Wallet, SPMS has announced the end of its collaboration with the European POTENTIAL initiative, which involved 19 countries and 119 partners across the public and private sector.
As one of the EUDI Wallet consortiums in the ecosystem, digital wallet providers, credential issuers, and service providers support the implementation of the proposed EU digital identity, including advocating the benefits for member states. The Agency for Technological Reform of the State was a key partner in the initiative as coordinator of Portugal’s participation.
By the deadline in 2026, EU member states must comply with provisioning interoperable digital wallets with the whole ecosystem that store identity and digital credentials.
The wallet enables convenient access to a range of public and private services where personal ID documents and data can be stored, presented and exchanged in the wallet.
During the POTENTIAL initiative, some successful pilots were carried out across healthcare scenarios, for example to work through the presentation of identification credentials in pharmacies, both in-person and remotely, and the development of the Health ID, a European credential intended to validate citizens’ identity when accessing healthcare services.
The project demonstrated the feasibility of using digital credentials in cross-border scenarios, reinforcing security, privacy, and the citizen experience. It also highlighted the role of the Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF), which is continuously evolving, as a central element to ensure interoperability between Member States.
The future of the EUDI Wallet now enters a new phase of consolidation, which includes the development of additional use cases, the definition of clear interoperability rules, and preparation for the enforcement of regulatory deadlines. SPMS will continue to monitor and collaborate in this process, ensuring that Portugal is aligned with European objectives and that Portuguese citizens can benefit from the advantages of this digital wallet in their daily lives.
At Identity Week Europe 2026, sessions will explore the lessons learned from POTENTIAL, highlighting national contributions, technological innovation, and regulatory alignment, offering attendees an inside look at how Europe is building a trusted, citizen-centric digital identity ecosystem. Speakers including Florent Tournois, Director of Identity, Trust Services & Production at ANTS will take to the stage to discuss real-world use cases concerning secure, privacy-first digital identities in Europe.
