General Description

The product is a Java applet that can digitally sign PDF documents using a signing certificate that is contained in a smart card or similar secure signature creation device. It has a data store of more than thirty smart card profiles that we have tested. This data store allows the applet to recognise the type of smart card that the user has presented. The corresponding smart card profile is retrieved and the technical parameters such as digest algorithm or middleware location are automatically selected, allowing the user to sign with minimal effort - the aim is for "one click" signature.

Needs

The product is intended to allow non-technical users to digitally sign a PDF document online with minimal effort.

How to reuse the solution

The applet could be used by other European Commission services, public administrations or organisations having similar needs. The user interface is an HTML form driven by events generated by the applet. This form can easily be adapted to suit the particular needs of the administration.

An out-of-the-box demonstration implementation is provided.

Standards

The applet relies on the popular Digital Signature Service for all signature operations, ensuring compatibility with Directive (2006/123/EC) and related standards.

Use case

The product was developed for the European Commission - Directorate General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST). DG JUST provides in its European e-Justice Portal a set of electronic forms concerning various legal instruments. Citizens and companies can complete the forms online, then print and send them to the relevant court. In order to simplify the process, DG JUST is launching a pilot system in which forms can be submitted electronically to courts via the European e-Justice Portal. In order to meet the legal requirements for electronic submission, the form must be digitally signed.