The European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet strategy is a mixed approach that centers on setting common frameworks and technical specifications at the EU level, while leaving the actual development and issuance of the wallet to individual Member States, which can then choose to build it themselves or outsource it to private providers.

Here is a breakdown of the strategy, as mandated by the eIDAS 2.0 regulation:

1. Framework and Interoperability (The EU's Role)
The European Commission and Member States have collaborated to create a detailed set of standards to ensure all national wallets work together seamlessly across borders.

Common Technical Framework: The core is the Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF) and the EU Digital Identity Wallet Toolbox. These documents provide the common protocols, data formats, and technical specifications that every compliant EUDI Wallet must adhere to. This guarantees interoperability—meaning a wallet issued in one country will be recognized and function correctly in all other EU countries.



Reference Implementation: The EU has provided an open-source Reference Implementation of the EUDI Wallet. This acts as a blueprint, providing code libraries and components that Member States and their chosen providers can reuse, speeding up development and ensuring compliance.


Security and Certification: The EU defines stringent security and privacy-by-design principles that all wallets must meet, with certification requirements to guarantee a high level of assurance.

2. Implementation and Provision (The Member States' Role)
Each EU Member State is mandated to provide its citizens with at least one EUDI Wallet by late 2026 (24 months after the adoption of the Implementing Acts).

Choice of Provider: Member States have the flexibility to choose how they provide the wallet:

Build It Yourself (Government-Led): The Member State's public authority can develop and manage the wallet app entirely in-house.

Outsource/Partner with Private Sector: The Member State can contract or mandate a private entity (potentially including Big Tech companies or specialized identity providers) to develop, issue, and/or provide ongoing support for the wallet, as long as it adheres to the common EU framework and is certified.

National Ecosystem: The national authority remains responsible for issuing the underlying official credentials (like the national ID, driving license, etc.) into the wallet and overseeing the entire national EUDI ecosystem.

Conclusion: A Blend of Both
The EUDI Wallet is not a single app built by the EU or Big Tech. It is a common, highly regulated framework created by the EU, which allows for multiple, nationally-issued, interoperable wallets.

In essence, the strategy is: Set the rules and provide the blueprint (EU), then decide who builds the final product (Member State: In-house or Outsource).

This approach aims to balance the need for sovereign control and user trust (by keeping the identity issuance under government mandate) with the efficiency, innovation, and scalability of the private sector (by allowing outsourcing and leveraging existing technology expertise).