Citation[]
European Parliament, European Directive 1999/93/EC on a Community framework for electronic signatures (Dec. 13, 1999) (full-text) (the e-Signature Directive or Electronic Signatures Directive).
Overview[]
This Directive established the legal framework at the European level for electronic signatures and certification services. These comprise the following:
- common obligations for certification service providers in order to secure transborder recognition of signatures and certificates throughout the European Community;
- common rules on liability to help build confidence among users, who rely on the certificates, and among service providers;
- cooperative mechanisms to facilitate transborder recognition of signatures and certificates with third countries.
The aim was to make electronic signatures easier to use and help them become legally recognized within the Member States.