Glossary

Where an instrument defines a term, we quote the instrument. Where a term is a practice label with no legal definition, we say so. Terms are alphabetical.

Authentic source

"A repository or system, held under the responsibility of a public sector body or private entity, that contains and provides attributes about a natural or legal person or object and that is considered to be a primary source of that information or recognised as authentic in accordance with Union or national law" [Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), Art. 3 definitions as amended]. For company representation facts, the business register is the authentic source in substance.

BRIS (system of interconnection of registers)

The Business Registers Interconnection System connecting Member States' business registers under Directive (EU) 2017/1132, operational since June 2017 [Directive (EU) 2025/25, recital 1]. The electronic EU Company Certificate must also be obtainable through it [Directive (EU) 2025/25, Art. 16b(4)].

Digital EU power of attorney

The template-based, digital-only instrument created by the new Article 16c of Directive (EU) 2017/1132, by which a company listed in Annex II or IIB authorises a person to represent it in cross-border procedures within that Directive's scope. Drawn up, amended and revoked under national requirements; authenticated by eIDAS trust services; compatible for use with the EUDI wallet; accepted as evidence of entitlement "as specified in the document" [Directive (EU) 2025/25, Art. 16c(1)–(2)]. Full treatment: /poa.

Electronic attestation of attributes (EAA)

"An attestation in electronic form that allows attributes to be authenticated" [Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), Art. 3 definitions as amended]. See Attestation of attributes.

EU Company Certificate

The harmonised, register-issued certificate of a company's incorporation and key register facts, accepted in all Member States as sufficient evidence at the time of issuance [Directive (EU) 2025/25, Art. 16b(1)]. Full treatment: /certificate.

EUID

The unique European identifier for companies used in the system of interconnection of registers; stated on the EU Company Certificate [Directive (EU) 2025/25, Art. 16b(2)(d)].

European Business Wallet

A Commission proposal (COM(2025)0838, procedure 2025/0358(COD)) for a regulation establishing business wallets. Not adopted law. Tracked at /eidas/business-wallets.

European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI wallet)

The wallet each Member State must provide under Article 5a of Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 as amended — enabling users to store, share and present person identification data and electronic attestations of attributes under their sole control, with selective disclosure [Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), Art. 5a(1) and (4)(a)].

Legalisation / apostille

The formality chain by which one state certifies the authenticity of another state's public documents. The EU Company Certificate, the digital EU power of attorney and register-certified copies are exempt from "all forms of legalisation and any similar formality" [Directive (EU) 2025/25, Art. 16d(1)–(2)]. (The term "apostille" itself comes from the Hague Convention framework — a practice label here, not an EU-law definition.)

Mandate (organisational)

A practice term, not a defined term of EU law: the authority relationship by which an organisation empowers a person or system to act for it. The nearest legal anchors are the attribute class "powers and mandates to represent natural or legal persons" [Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), Annex VI, point 9] and the power of attorney instrument itself. See /mandates.

Qualified electronic attestation of attributes (QEAA)

An EAA "issued by a qualified trust service provider" and meeting Annex V requirements [Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), Art. 3 definitions as amended]. Same legal effect as paper attestations; revocation is definitive from the moment it happens [Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), Arts. 45b(2), 45d(4)].

Relying party

"A natural or legal person that relies upon electronic identification, European Digital Identity Wallets or other electronic identification means, or upon a trust service" [Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 (eIDAS 2), Art. 3 definitions as amended].

Transposition

The process by which Member States enact national measures giving effect to a directive. For Directive (EU) 2025/25: adopt and publish by 31 July 2027, apply from 31 July 2028 [Directive (EU) 2025/25, Art. 4(1)–(2)]. Status by country: /poa/member-states.

Trust services

Electronic services under Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS) — signatures, seals, timestamps and related services — used to authenticate both the EU Company Certificate and the digital EU power of attorney [Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 (eIDAS)] [Directive (EU) 2025/25, Arts. 16b(6), 16c(1)].

Wallet-relying party

"A relying party that intends to rely upon wallet units for the provision of public or private services by means of digital interaction" [Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/848, Art. 2(1)]. Registration regime: /eidas/relying-party-registration.