Discussion topics
Introduction
The Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF) is currently in development. To finalise it, the Commission, in collaboration with the European Digital Identity Cooperation Group (EDICG), has identified 24 open items,referred to as topics, that must be addressed and discussed by the end of 2025. The ARF roadmap project outlines these topics and provides a structured timeline for their resolution.
Objective
The Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF) defines high-level requirements for the European Digital Identity (EUDI) Wallet, serving as the foundation for developing the technical specifications, standards, and procedures referenced by the European Commission in the implementing acts of the European Digital Identity Regulation. These elements ensure a consistent and standardised implementation of the EUDI Wallet ecosystem.
Drafting Process
The Architecture and Reference Framework (ARF) is developed in close collaboration with Member States, experts from the European Digital Identity Cooperation Group, and with feedback from industry and the wider community via GitHub.
Each discussion topic is documented in a Discussion Paper, refined until consensus is reached, and then integrated into the next ARF release. An overview of all papers and the ARF versions they contributed to is available in the README file.
Once integrated, a Discussion Paper is no longer updated. Its content may become outdated due to:
- editorial adjustments at the time of integration,
- interdependence with later discussion topics, or
- continuous feedback received through Confluence, GitHub, and internal reviews.
Historic Discussion Papers are not normative. The authoritative requirements are always those in the latest version of Annex 2 of the ARF.
The process of defining high-level requirements consists of five steps:
- A discussion paper on the topic is published on GitHub and on this page.
- The discussion paper includes several questions, each with a dedicated response thread in the GitHub discussion area.
- The discussion remains open for three weeks, and while responses to all the comments may not be provided, all input will be carefully considered.
- Approximately seven weeks after the discussion paper is published, the Commission will release an updated ARF version on GitHub, incorporating revisions to the topic.
- The published ARF version remains open for further comments on GitHub.
The topics are subject to change, and the order of the topics may be adjusted based on the feedback received during the discussions. The progress of the discussions can be tracked on the ARF Roadmap.
Topics
Topics are organised into three iterations, each focusing on a specific set of subjects to be included in a major document release. Below is the list of topics with links to their corresponding discussion papers. The requirements from each discussion paper will be consolidated and integrated into the major release at the end of each iteration, ensuring a structured and iterative development process for the ARF.
Iteration 1
Iteration took place from 27 November 2024 to 25 April 2025 covering the following topics:
Iteration 2
Iteration took place from 26 March 2025 to 02 July 2025 covering the following topics:
Iteration 3
Iteration is planned from 20 August 2025 to 26 November 2025 covering the following topics:
| Topic | Title | Link | Integrated into ARF version |
|---|---|---|---|
| O | Catalogues for Attestations | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
| P | Secure Cryptographic Interface between the Wallet Instance and the WSCA | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
| Q | Interface between the User and the Wallet Instance | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
| R | Authentication of the User to the device | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
| S | Certificate transparency | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
| T | Support and maintenance by the Wallet Provider | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
| Z | Device-bound Attestations | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
| AA | Support of Electronic Payments Customer Authentication (SCA) with the Wallet | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
Earlier topics, planned to be additionally discussed in iteration 3:
| Topic | Title | Link | Integrated into ARF version |
|---|---|---|---|
| E | Pseudonyms, including User authentication mechanism | Roadmap issue | Not yet integrated |
| F | Digital Credentials API | Roadmap issue | |
| G | Zero Knowledge Proof | Roadmap issue |