EIDAS 2014/0910 EN

A supervisory body shall, upon receipt of a justified request from another supervisory body, provide that body with assistance so that the activities of supervisory bodies can be carried out in a consistent manner. Mutual assistance may cover, in particular, information requests and supervisory measures, such as requests to carry out inspections related to the conformity assessment reports as referred to in Articles 20 and 21.

2. A supervisory body to which a request for assistance is addressed may refuse that request on any of the following grounds:

(a)	the supervisory body is not competent to provide the requested assistance;

(b)	the requested assistance is not proportionate to supervisory activities of the supervisory body carried out in accordance with Article 17;

(c)	providing the requested assistance would be incompatible with this Regulation.

3. Where appropriate, Member States may authorise their respective supervisory bodies to carry out joint investigations in which staff from other Member States’ supervisory bodies is involved. The arrangements and procedures for such joint actions shall be agreed upon and established by the Member States concerned in accordance with their national law.

Article 21

Initiation of a qualified trust_service

1. Where trust_service providers, without qualified status, intend to start providing qualified trust_services, they shall submit to the supervisory body a notification of their intention together with a conformity assessment report issued by a conformity_assessment_body.

2. The supervisory body shall verify whether the trust_service provider and the trust_services provided by it comply with the requirements laid down in this Regulation, and in particular, with the requirements for qualified trust_service providers and for the qualified trust_services they provide.

If the supervisory body concludes that the trust_service provider and the trust_services provided by it comply with the requirements referred to in the first subparagraph, the supervisory body shall grant qualified status to the trust_service provider and the trust_services it provides and inform the body referred to in Article 22(3) for the purposes of updating the trusted lists referred to in Article 22(1), not later than three months after notification in accordance with paragraph 1 of this Article.

If the verification is not concluded within three months of notification, the supervisory body shall inform the trust_service provider specifying the reasons for the delay and the period within which the verification is to be concluded.

3. Qualified trust_service providers may begin to provide the qualified trust_service after the qualified status has been indicated in the trusted lists referred to in Article 22(1).

4. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, define the formats and procedures for the purpose of paragraphs 1 and 2. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(2).

Article 24

Requirements for qualified trust_service providers

1. When issuing a qualified certificate for a trust_service, a qualified trust_service provider shall verify, by appropriate means and in accordance with national law, the identity and, if applicable, any specific attributes of the natural or legal person to whom the qualified certificate is issued.

The information referred to in the first subparagraph shall be verified by the qualified trust_service provider either directly or by relying on a third party in accordance with national law:

(a)	by the physical presence of the natural person or of an authorised representative of the legal person; or

(b)

remotely, using electronic_identification means, for which prior to the issuance of the qualified certificate, a physical presence of the natural person or of an authorised representative of the legal person was ensured and which meets the requirements set out in Article 8 with regard to the assurance levels ‘substantial’ or ‘high’; or

(c)	by means of a certificate of a qualified electronic_signature or of a qualified electronic_seal issued in compliance with point (a) or (b); or

(d)	by using other identification methods recognised at national level which provide equivalent assurance in terms of reliability to physical presence. The equivalent assurance shall be confirmed by a conformity_assessment_body.

2. A qualified trust_service provider providing qualified trust_services shall:

(a)	inform the supervisory body of any change in the provision of its qualified trust_services and an intention to cease those activities;

(b)

employ staff and, if applicable, subcontractors who possess the necessary expertise, reliability, experience, and qualifications and who have received appropriate training regarding security and personal data protection rules and shall apply administrative and management procedures which correspond to European or international standards;

(c)	with regard to the risk of liability for damages in accordance with Article 13, maintain sufficient financial resources and/or obtain appropriate liability insurance, in accordance with national law;

(d)	before entering into a contractual relationship, inform, in a clear and comprehensive manner, any person seeking to use a qualified trust_service of the precise terms and conditions regarding the use of that service, including any limitations on its use;

(e)	use trustworthy systems and products that are protected against modification and ensure the technical security and reliability of the processes supported by them;

(f)

use trustworthy systems to store data provided to it, in a verifiable form so that:

(i)	they are publicly available for retrieval only where the consent of the person to whom the data relates has been obtained,

(ii)	only authorised persons can make entries and changes to the stored data,

(iii)

the data can be checked for authenticity;

(g)	take appropriate measures against forgery and theft of data;

(h)

record and keep accessible for an appropriate period of time, including after the activities of the qualified trust_service provider have ceased, all relevant information concerning data issued and received by the qualified trust_service provider, in particular, for the purpose of providing evidence in legal proceedings and for the purpose of ensuring continuity of the service. Such recording may be done electronically;

(i)	have an up-to-date termination plan to ensure continuity of service in accordance with provisions verified by the supervisory body under point (i) of Article 17(4);

(j)	ensure lawful processing of personal data in accordance with Directive 95/46/EC;

(k)	in case of qualified trust_service providers issuing qualified certificates, establish and keep updated a certificate database.

3. If a qualified trust_service provider issuing qualified certificates decides to revoke a certificate, it shall register such revocation in its certificate database and publish the revocation status of the certificate in a timely manner, and in any event within 24 hours after the receipt of the request. The revocation shall become effective immediately upon its publication.

4. With regard to paragraph 3, qualified trust_service providers issuing qualified certificates shall provide to any relying_party information on the validity or revocation status of qualified certificates issued by them. This information shall be made available at least on a per certificate basis at any time and beyond the validity period of the certificate in an automated manner that is reliable, free of charge and efficient.

5. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, establish reference numbers of standards for trustworthy systems and products, which comply with the requirements under points (e) and (f) of paragraph 2 of this Article. Compliance with the requirements laid down in this Article shall be presumed where trustworthy systems and products meet those standards. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(2).

SECTION 4

Electronic signatures

Article 28

Qualified certificates for electronic_signatures

1. Qualified certificates for electronic_signatures shall meet the requirements laid down in Annex I.

2. Qualified certificates for electronic_signatures shall not be subject to any mandatory requirement exceeding the requirements laid down in Annex I.

3. Qualified certificates for electronic_signatures may include non-mandatory additional specific attributes. Those attributes shall not affect the interoperability and recognition of qualified electronic_signatures.

4. If a qualified certificate for electronic_signatures has been revoked after initial activation, it shall lose its validity from the moment of its revocation, and its status shall not in any circumstances be reverted.

5. Subject to the following conditions, Member States may lay down national rules on temporary suspension of a qualified certificate for electronic_signature:

(a)	if a qualified certificate for electronic_signature has been temporarily suspended that certificate shall lose its validity for the period of suspension;

(b)	the period of suspension shall be clearly indicated in the certificate database and the suspension status shall be visible, during the period of suspension, from the service providing information on the status of the certificate.

6. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, establish reference numbers of standards for qualified certificates for electronic_signature. Compliance with the requirements laid down in Annex I shall be presumed where a qualified certificate for electronic_signature meets those standards. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(2).

Article 38

Qualified certificates for electronic_seals

1. Qualified certificates for electronic_seals shall meet the requirements laid down in Annex III.

2. Qualified certificates for electronic_seals shall not be subject to any mandatory requirements exceeding the requirements laid down in Annex III.

3. Qualified certificates for electronic_seals may include non-mandatory additional specific attributes. Those attributes shall not affect the interoperability and recognition of qualified electronic_seals.

4. If a qualified certificate for an electronic_seal has been revoked after initial activation, it shall lose its validity from the moment of its revocation, and its status shall not in any circumstances be reverted.

5. Subject to the following conditions, Member States may lay down national rules on temporary suspension of qualified certificates for electronic_seals:

(a)	if a qualified certificate for electronic_seal has been temporarily suspended, that certificate shall lose its validity for the period of suspension;

(b)	the period of suspension shall be clearly indicated in the certificate database and the suspension status shall be visible, during the period of suspension, from the service providing information on the status of the certificate.

6. The Commission may, by means of implementing acts, establish reference numbers of standards for qualified certificates for electronic_seals. Compliance with the requirements laid down in Annex III shall be presumed where a qualified certificate for electronic_seal meets those standards. Those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 48(2).

whereas

(2) This Regulation seeks to enhance trust in electronic transactions in the internal market by providing a common foundation for secure electronic interaction between citizens, businesses and public authorities, thereby increasing the effectiveness of public and private online services, electronic business and electronic commerce in the Union.

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(16) Assurance levels should characterise the degree of confidence in electronic_identification means in establishing the identity of a person, thus providing assurance that the person claiming a particular identity is in fact the person to which that identity was assigned.
The assurance level depends on the degree of confidence that electronic_identification means provides in claimed or asserted identity of a person taking into account processes (for example, identity proofing and verification, and authentication), management activities (for example, the entity issuing electronic_identification means and the procedure to issue such means) and technical controls implemented.
Various technical definitions and descriptions of assurance levels exist as the result of Union-funded Large-Scale Pilots, standardisation and international activities.
In particular, the Large-Scale Pilot STORK and ISO 29115 refer, inter alia, to levels 2, 3 and 4, which should be taken into utmost account in establishing minimum technical requirements, standards and procedures for the assurances levels low, substantial and high within the meaning of this Regulation, while ensuring consistent application of this Regulation in particular with regard to assurance level high related to identity proofing for issuing qualified certificates.
The requirements established should be technology-neutral.
It should be possible to achieve the necessary security requirements through different technologies.

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(38) Notification of security breaches and security risk assessments is essential with a view to providing adequate information to concerned parties in the event of a breach of security or loss of integrity.

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(42) To facilitate the supervision of qualified trust_service providers, for example, when a provider is providing its services in the territory of another Member State and is not subject to supervision there, or when the computers of a provider are located in the territory of a Member State other than the one where it is established, a mutual assistance system between supervisory bodies in the Member States should be established.

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(44) This Regulation aims to ensure a coherent framework with a view to providing a high level of security and legal certainty of trust_services.
In this regard, when addressing the conformity assessment of products and services, the Commission should, where appropriate, seek synergies with existing relevant European and international schemes such as the Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council (9) which sets out the requirements for accreditation of conformity assessment bodies and market surveillance of products.

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(67) Website authentication services provide a means by which a visitor to a website can be assured that there is a genuine and legitimate entity standing behind the website.
Those services contribute to the building of trust and confidence in conducting business online, as users will have confidence in a website that has been authenticated.
The provision and the use of website authentication services are entirely voluntary.
However, in order for website authentication to become a means to boosting trust, providing a better experience for the user and furthering growth in the internal market, this Regulation should lay down minimal security and liability obligations for the providers and their services.
To that end, the results of existing industry-led initiatives, for example the Certification Authorities/Browsers Forum — CA/B Forum, have been taken into account.
In addition, this Regulation should not impede the use of other means or methods to authenticate a website not falling under this Regulation nor should it prevent third country providers of website authentication services from providing their services to customers in the Union.
However, a third country provider should only have its website authentication services recognised as qualified in accordance with this Regulation, if an international agreement between the Union and the country of establishment of the provider has been concluded.

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keyboard_tab EIDAS 2014/0910 EN

EIDAS 2014/0910 EN