E-ID cards Parliament agrees in principle on the design of the E-ID

The new attempt to introduce electronic proof of identity is well underway. After the National Council, the Council of States also approved the legal basis on Tuesday. There are still differences on individual data protection and cyber security issues.

The small chamber clearly approved the federal law and the credit decision for the development and operation of the e-ID in the overall vote - by 43 votes to 1 and 44 votes to 1 respectively. As in the National Council, there were only a few critical votes on the bill in the Council of States.

The state E-ID is the second attempt to introduce electronic identity. It is to be introduced in 2026. The first attempt - a private-sector solution - was rejected at the ballot box in 2021. "The right lessons have been learned," said committee spokesperson Matthias Michel (FDP/ZG) in the Council of States.

The bill will go back to the National Council to iron out the differences.