Analysis
During the lead ITRE Committee meeting, rapporteur Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia) briefed MEPs on 28 June on the outcomes of the second trilogue.
The first trilogue took place on 21 March, while the second trilogue was held on 23 May, and the third is scheduled for today's evening, the 28 June 2023.
Then, on 30 June, Council’s Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER I) is schedueled to meet to be briefed by the Swedish Council Presidency on the outcomes of the third trilogue.
1. Outcomes of the second trilogue on 23 May 2023 and European Parliament's position
During the lead ITRE Committee meeting, rapporteur Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia) presented the two points that were discussed during the second trilogue as being related to:
1. Relying parties. Whether the relying parties should have the national obligation to register with the national authorities, and whether the relying parties should be obliged to accept the use of pseudonyms in the situations in which the law allows for that use.
Rapporteur Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia) concluded that on this matter a good outcome for the European Parliament was achieved since the text now explicitly introduces obligations of the relying parties to register with the national authorities before any form of interaction between the user and the wallet takes place. In addition, the relying parties will have to accept the use of pseudonyms in electronic transactions.
2. Governance. According to rapporteur Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia), the European Parliament has introduced the creation of the single point of contact and the establishment of the European Board, which would help to facilitate the coordination at the EU level.
The Council has accepted the majority of the Parliament’s text on governance. For the Council it was important that the Board will not have any executive power, and rather be limited to an advisory role. The Parliament agreed with the Council on this matter.
As such, Rapporteur Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia) also considered this as being a good outcome for the Parliament.
2. Open questions that remain
Even though Rapporteur Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia) briefed on some progress made during the second trilogue, several relevant questions remain open:
- Unique identifier;
- Wallet;
- Penalties.
3. Prospects for the third trilogue on 28 June 2023
On the evening of 28 June 2023, the third trilogue is scheduled to take place.
An ambitious package with ten items is to be discussed according to Rapporteur Romana Jerković (S&D, Croatia). However, Jerković expressed during the lead ITRE Committee meeting that this agenda may not be realistic and that the negotiations will probably not end during the Swedish Presidency of the Council.
Jerković remains optimistic and considers that the political goals of the Parliament and of the Council are compatible.
Furthermore, the negotiations are likely to continue with the Spanish Council Presidency that will take office on 1 July 2023. |
