The Brussels Declaration issued following the EU–Western Balkans summit this week includes an explicit reference to the EU Digital Identity Wallet, placing it among a set of digital initiatives that partner countries are encouraged to join or replicate.
The Brussels Declaration is a joint political statement adopted at the EU–Western Balkans summit that sets out shared priorities and areas for closer alignment between the European Union and its Western Balkan partners. While it is not legally binding, it is used to signal policy direction and to frame cooperation on issues such as economic integration, regulatory convergence, and digital infrastructure, including initiatives linked to the EU single market.
Within a section addressing gradual integration into the EU single market, the declaration highlights digital initiatives as practical mechanisms for alignment. Alongside programmes such as Digital Innovation Hubs and the WiFi4WB connectivity initiative, the EU Digital Identity Wallet is named as an example of infrastructure that partners could adopt or mirror as part of their digital transformation efforts.
The inclusion of the EU Digital Identity Wallet in this context signals its positioning as more than an internal EU project. By explicitly referencing the wallet in a geopolitical declaration, the EU is framing its digital identity framework as a model that could extend beyond member states and influence regional integration strategies. The language does not impose requirements, but it establishes digital identity as a component of economic and regulatory convergence.
The same section of the declaration also references related digital market integration measures, including efforts to reduce data roaming costs across the region. This situates digital identity alongside connectivity and data mobility as part of a broader digital single market vision.
While the declaration does not provide technical or implementation details for the EU Digital Identity Wallet, its inclusion reflects ongoing EU efforts to promote harmonized digital public infrastructure. The wallet initiative is intended to support cross-border use cases, including identity verification, credential sharing, and access to public and private services.
Sources: Council of the European Union, Brussels Declaration PDF
—
By Ali Nassar-Smith
