Italy’s certified email system seeks EU-wide compatibility

Italy’s certified email system has more than 20 million active accounts, and is expected to handle about 3.5 billion messages in 2026.

Known as PEC, it is used by citizens, businesses, professionals and public bodies for messages with legal certification.

The system was introduced 20 years ago and is now widely used in Italy.

Many Italian organisations say international incompatibility is a major barrier to using PEC for exchanges with other countries.

Two-thirds of those surveyed say EU-wide certified messaging could improve legal certainty and compliance in cross-border dealings.

The next step is a planned change under the EU’s eIDAS 2.0 rules, which would make PEC an interoperable qualified delivery service across member states.

Italian officials and industry representatives support the move while stressing that it should preserve existing investments, security and ease of use.