ChamberSign

eSignature in Europe - where we do stand in Europe

V. Tilman and A. Esposito drafted a report on eSignature and interoperaibility 10 years after the publication of the European Directive. This paper gives a state of the art and addresses 6 recommendations.
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What is an electronic certificate?

 An electronic certificate is an electronic document attesting to the link between the data signed and the signer.

 The electronic certificate is an electronic identity card containing various pieces of information. These include:

  • The holder (name, first name, service, function, etc.) and his/her company;
  • The electronic signature (validity, length of the key, etc.);
  • The authority which has issued the certificate; the certifying authority

 Who issues certificates for electronic signatures?

 The certificates for electronic signatures are issued by a Certification Authority. Your local Chamber of Commerce may be one of those.

 What is an electronic signature?

An electronic signature is a reliable identification process guaranteeing the link between the signer and the document to which it is attached.

The reliability of this process is assured when the electronic signature is created, the identity of the signatory ensured and the integrity of the act guaranteed, under conditions fixed by the European Directive enshrined in national laws.

What are the different categories of certificates?

There are three major classes of electronic certificates:

  • Certificates of “Class I”
  • Certificates of “Class II”
  • Certificates of “Class III”

 The distinction between the various classes of certificates is at the level of the control of the information contained in the certificate:

  • The Class I certificate does not guarantee the identity of the holder of the certificate but only the existence of his/her email address.
  • The Class II certificate gives an additional guarantee. The information concerning the holder and his/her company is controlled by the Certificate Authority on the basis of supporting documents which are generally transmitted by post.
  • The Class III certificate gives an additional level of security. The information concerning the holder and his/her company can be provided by post or in person, but an additional check is carried out by a representative of the Certifying Authority, who confirms this information in person with the holder.