Brussels, 19/03/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 18 March, the European Parliament's industry committee endorsed the agreement concluded with the Council of Ministers on 28 February on electronic signatures and identification (see EUROPE 11030). The regulation seeks to introduce a legal framework for electronic signatures, electronic seals, electronic timestamps, e-documents, e-services and the authentication of websites, in an effort to ensure that electronic operations throughout the EU are done securely and reliably. “Today's deal will make it easier for people who need to deal with authorities in another EU country. It could be applying for a course at a foreign university, planning a wedding or filing tax returns”, said rapporteur Marita Ulvskog (S&D, Sweden). She also said that the regulation would provide a boost to online business, thanks to its clear legal framework that would provide both companies and customers with greater reassurance. Member states will be able to adopt the mutual recognition of national electronic identification systems from 1 July 2015. The deadline for adoption is 1 July 2018. The agreement will need to be approved by the European Parliament plenary, which is scheduled to vote on it on 3 April. (IL)