Regulations
An overview of key European Union regulations on micro-credentials, digital credentials and trust services.
Definitions
Micro-credential
A record of the learning outcomes that a learner has acquired following a small volume of learning. These learning outcomes have been assessed against transparent and clearly defined criteria. Learning activities leading to micro-credentials are designed to provide the learner with specific knowledge, skills and competences that respond to societal, personal, cultural or labour market needs. Micro-credentials are owned by the learner, are shareable and portable. They may be standalone or combined into larger credentials.
Micro-credential
Proof of having acquired specific skills — what someone can do. A substantive concept, independent of format.
Digital credential
A specific technical format (e.g. EDC) — how the micro-credential is issued, sealed and verified.
The terms "micro-credential" and "digital credential" are sometimes used interchangeably, although they mean different things — the first refers to the content, the second to the format. You may also encounter "micro-qualification" — it is a synonym for micro-credential.
European Digital Credentials for Learning
The EU standard for digital learning credentials
EDC is the European standard for digital educational credentials, built on W3C Verifiable Credentials. Developed by the European Commission as part of the Europass platform, it provides a unified system for issuing, verifying and recognising credentials, supporting the mobility of learners, students and workers across the entire EU.
A European Digital Credential for Learning (EDC) is a verifiable digital version of a traditional document issued by an educational institution to a learner to document their learning. It can be a diploma, a training certificate, a micro-credential, a certificate of attendance, etc. European digital credentials are issued in all EU languages and languages available in the Europass system and are signed with an electronic seal (a type of digital signature made by a trusted institution).
Source: europass.europa.eu — EDC
Open Badges
A global digital badge standard — outside the EU regulatory framework
Open Badges is a standard developed by 1EdTech (formerly IMS Global). Version 3.0 uses the W3C Verifiable Credentials data model — the same technical foundation as EDC. Despite this common element, Open Badges are not the same as EDC and differ in key aspects.
EDC
Requires a qualified electronic seal (qSeal) compliant with eIDAS. Uses the European Learning Model (ELM). Recognised under EU regulations. Issued via Europass infrastructure.
Open Badges
Does not require a qualified electronic seal. Uses its own metadata model. Not covered by EU regulations or mentioned in Council recommendations or regulations.
Risks of implementing Open Badges instead of EDC
Open Badges is not a "bad" or prohibited standard — it is widely used globally, especially in non-formal education. However, in the context of EU regulations, eIDAS compliance and future integration with the EUDI Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet), it is not an alternative to EDC.
Sources: 1EdTech — Open Badges · EDC vs Open Badges — Skills4EOSC analysis (2025)
eIDAS
Electronic identification and trust services
The eIDAS Regulation provides the legal and technical foundation on which European Digital Credentials for Learning are built. Here are the three key pillars:
Qualified signatures and seals
EDC uses qualified electronic signatures and seals compliant with eIDAS. This ensures that credentials are legally binding and recognised in all EU member states.
Trust services
EDC relies on trust services defined in eIDAS — creation, verification and preservation of electronic signatures. This increases the security and integrity of digital credentials.
Integration with eIDAS 2.0
The eIDAS 2.0 Regulation (EU 2024/1183), in force since May 2024, introduces the EUDI Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet), which will also store digital educational credentials — with full EDC integration.
Source: Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 of 11 April 2024 (eIDAS 2.0) — in force since 20 May 2024.
Why choose an EDC-compliant system?
The eIDAS 2.0 Regulation (EU 2024/1183) obliges member states to provide the EUDI Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet). National implementations will enable storage and management of EDC digital credentials.
Standards compliance
EDC meets the technical and legal requirements of eIDAS / eIDAS 2.0 — interoperable and recognised across the entire EU.
Wallet import
Existing EDC credentials can be imported directly into the EUDI Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet).
Security
Advanced cryptographic technologies — eIDAS signatures and seals guarantee authenticity and immutability.
EUDI Wallet (European Digital Identity Wallet)
The EUDI Wallet is being developed as the official European digital identity wallet compliant with eIDAS 2.0. Each EU member state will provide its own national implementation. The wallet is planned to support storage of diplomas and educational certificates — users will be able to import and manage EDC credentials directly in the app.
Want to issue digital credentials?
Join the institutions already using Credentium — a micro-credential system compliant with European standards.