The growing importance of qualified electronic signatures (QES) in the EU

Understanding the shift in electronic signing regulations

Digital trust services are evolving across the EU, and businesses need to stay ahead of regulatory changes. Among the different types of electronic signatures defined under the eIDAS regulation, Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) provide the highest level of reliability and legal acceptance. Historically, the legal requirement for QES has been the exception rather than the norm. However, regulatory trends suggest that this may soon change.

Why are more countries moving toward QES?

While Belgium and Germany already require QES for specific agreements, other EU member states are showing signs of adopting similar standards. Security concerns and stricter compliance regulations are key drivers of this shift. Sweden is one such country where we see increasing momentum toward QES adoption:

• Lantmäteriet (Swedish Land Registry) has proposed a QES requirement for property sale documents.
• The Swedish Ministry of Finance’s 2023 report on government e-identification highlights the need for QES capability as a core component of secure digital ID systems.
• BankID in Sweden has been certified by the EU for signing agreements with QES, making it significantly more accessible and cost-effective
• Norwegian BankID is on track to becoming a Qualified Trust Service Provider (QTSP) and will soon require all signatures to meet the QES standard.

For businesses operating in regulated industries or across multiple EU countries, the ability to sign with QES ensures future-proof compliance and removes uncertainty in cross-border agreements.

Learn more about QES

Watch our webinar with BankID to explore how QES can support your business in staying compliant and secure (in Swedish)

Register here