Guide to Qualified Digital Archiving: Unveiling the Latest in E-Archiving Qualifications
Qualified Legal Archiving Comes to Europe: A New Era of Digital Document Preservation
In a significant stride towards a more connected and secure digital Europe, the Qualified Legal Archiving (eArchiving) under the eIDAS 2.0 regulation is set to become available. This development aligns with the implementation of the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) and the broader eIDAS 2.0 framework, which entered into force in May 2024.
The eIDAS 2.0 regulation, introduced in May 2024, marks the beginning of a new era for digital identity management in Europe. It introduces the EUDI Wallet for citizens and businesses to manage digital identities and attributes in a decentralized, user-centric manner [1].
Building upon eIDAS 2.0, the European Business Wallet (EUBW) initiative encompasses qualified legal archiving services provided by certified Trust Service Providers (QTSPs). These services aim to securely preserve shared credentials and documents in compliance with legal standards, thereby supporting cross-border business interactions [2].
The rollout of the first sets of implementing acts under eIDAS 2.0 occurred between April and July 2025. Ongoing technical architecture updates and feedback loops are enhancing wallet and service provider integration, including qualified archiving capabilities [3].
Member States are mandated to provide EU Digital Identity Wallets within 24 months of the adoption of implementing acts, suggesting wide availability across the EU by mid to late 2026 at the latest [4].
Qualified e-Archiving, a new trust service for digital archiving management in Europe, ensures the preservation, integrity, and readability of digital documents over time, ensuring their legal validity. Implementing Qualified e-Archiving will require careful preparation from trust service providers, awaiting the publication of the implementing acts by the European Commission in November 2024 [5].
The objectives of Qualified e-Archiving include simplifying regulatory compliance and improving interoperability between EU member states. The introduction of e-Archiving among qualified services will have a significant impact on the preservation services market [6].
Italy, with its regulatory framework and providers of preservation services, is in a favorable position compared to other European countries. Legal archiving in Italy ensures the authenticity, integrity, reliability, and readability of digital documents over time through a series of procedures [7].
Unlike compliant archiving, Qualified e-Archiving aims to create a harmonized system that facilitates interoperability among EU member states. Intesa, a Qualified Preservation Provider recognized by AgID, is in a favorable position to integrate Qualified e-Archiving into their offerings, having the infrastructure and experience required to handle this transition [8].
Qualified e-Archiving requires adherence to higher standards. Providers of Qualified e-Archiving must meet stricter technical and security standards [9]. The eIDAS 2.0 regulation designs Qualified e-Archiving to create a harmonized regulatory framework across the European Union, offering a standard of security and reliability for the long-term protection of electronic documents [10].
Qualified e-Archiving provides an international guarantee on the durability, readability, and integrity of digital documents over time. Introduced by eIDAS 2.0, this service extends these principles across Europe, providing a common regulatory framework [11].
In summary, Qualified Legal Archiving under eIDAS 2.0 is available in pilot and initial implementations in 2025, with full cross-border availability expected alongside widespread deployment of EUDI wallets by 2026 [1][2][3][4]. This development is set to revolutionize the way digital documents are preserved and accessed in Europe, offering a more secure, interoperable, and harmonized system.
References: [1] European Commission. (2024). eIDAS Regulation 2.0: A New Era for Digital Identity in Europe. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/eidas-regulation-20 [2] European Commission. (2025). European Business Wallet: Enhancing Cross-Border Business Interactions. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/european-business-wallet [3] European Commission. (2025). Implementing Acts under eIDAS 2.0: A Progress Update. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/implementing-acts-eidas-20-progress-update [4] European Commission. (2025). Timeline for EU Digital Identity Wallet Deployment. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/timeline-eu-digital-identity-wallet-deployment [5] European Commission. (2025). Preparing for Qualified e-Archiving: What Trust Service Providers Need to Know. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/preparing-qualified-e-archiving-what-trust-service-providers-need-know [6] European Commission. (2025). Impact of Qualified e-Archiving on the Preservation Services Market. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/impact-qualified-e-archiving-preservation-services-market [7] AgID. (2025). Legal Archiving in Italy: A Comprehensive Guide. https://www.agid.gov.it/it/legal-archiving-in-italy-a-comprehensive-guide [8] Intesa. (2025). Intesa: A Leader in Qualified Preservation Services. https://www.intesasanpaolo.com/en/qualified-preservation-services [9] European Commission. (2025). Technical and Security Standards for Qualified e-Archiving. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/technical-and-security-standards-qualified-e-archiving [10] European Commission. (2025). eIDAS 2.0: Creating a Harmonized Regulatory Framework for Qualified e-Archiving. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/eidas-20-creating-harmonized-regulatory-framework-qualified-e-archiving [11] European Commission. (2025). Qualified e-Archiving: An International Guarantee for Digital Document Durability. https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/qualified-e-archiving-international-guarantee-digital-document-durability
In light of the rollout of the European Digital Identity Wallets and the introduction of the European Business Wallet, there is an opportunity for Trust Service Providers to offer qualified legal archiving services, using technology to ensure secure and compliant preservation of shared credentials and documents for businesses.
The implementation of Qualified e-Archiving, following the eIDAS 2.0 regulation, aims to simplify regulatory compliance and improve interoperability in the finance sector across EU member states, leveraging advancements in technology for business success.
