Implementation of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157 and possibility of deferring the 3 August 2026 deadline

Priority question for written answer P-000783/2026
to the Commission
Rule 144
Susanna Ceccardi (PfE)

Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1157[1] stipulates that identity cards which do not meet security standards shall cease to be valid by 3 August 2026.

This impending deadline could mean there is a significant increase in applications for electronic identity cards and equivalent documents by EU citizens, including those residing in Member States other than that of their nationality, thus putting operational pressure on the competent national administrations and document-issuing bodies.

Any problems that arise when adjusting to the new provisions could adversely impact the effective exercise of the right to free movement and residence, and the rights attached to citizenship. It is therefore essential to guarantee that the regulation be implemented in a uniform and coordinated manner, so as to prevent uneven implementation and inconvenience for citizens, including by assessing whether the circumstances dictate that the deadline be adjusted.

In the light of the above:

• 1.Does the Commission have up-to-date statistics on the number of identity cards not meeting requirements that are still in circulation in the Member States, especially in the case of EU citizens residing in other countries?
• 2.Has it assessed the impact of the 3 August 2026 deadline on intra-EU mobility and access to rights, and will it adopt guidelines or initiatives - including, where necessary, a proposal to defer the deadline - to ensure uniform implementation of the regulation and to head off potential administrative problems?

Submitted: 25.2.2026

• [1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32019R1157