Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou of Cyprus and Greece’s Minister of Digital Governance Dimitris Papastergiou introduced the development at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia. The initial phase enables mutual recognition of digital identity cards and driving licenses for transactions at banks, government agencies, and other authorized institutions within both countries. The documents are not intended for use as travel credentials.
The integration builds on ongoing efforts within the EU to implement the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet framework. Greece and Cyprus have aligned their national systems to support emerging EU-wide standards under eIDAS 2.0, which will require all member states to offer interoperable digital identity wallets by the end of 2026. According to officials, the technical architecture complies with European Commission specifications adopted earlier this month, including requirements for privacy-by-design, user control over shared data, and open-source transparency.
During the press conference, the ministers conducted a live demonstration of the platforms’ interoperability by verifying digital documents across borders. Officials framed the rollout as an early model for regional cooperation under the broader EU identity initiative.
Greece’s participation follows a series of domestic digital governance initiatives, including the recent launch of its “Kids Wallet” system for age verification, reflecting a coordinated approach to digital transformation. Cyprus, meanwhile, launched its national eID system, IDMe.cy, in January 2025. That system is expected to integrate with the Digital Citizen app and meet the technical standards for EU digital ID infrastructure.
Despite the policy progress, user adoption remains limited. Deputy Minister Damianou acknowledged that only 36,000 Cypriots had downloaded the Digital Citizen app as of mid-May, a number he described as “unsatisfactory.” He emphasized that broader public and private sector acceptance will be essential for these tools to reach their potential. Low uptake is not unique to Cyprus; several EU countries face similar challenges as users weigh convenience against concerns about privacy, data security, and the relevance of use cases.
Officials in Cyprus have outlined plans to expand the wallet’s features, including integration of the Fan Card used for accessing sports venues. These additions are part of a longer-term roadmap to broaden functionality and increase user engagement.
As the EU moves toward full-scale deployment of digital identity wallets, the Greece-Cyprus integration offers an early example of practical implementation, even as questions around adoption and governance remain central to the success of the broader initiative.
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May 20, 2025 – by Ali Nassar-Smith
