This article was originally published on EU Tech Loop as part of an agreement with Euronews. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent in any way the editorial position of Euronews.

When European policymakers unveiled the European Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) framework under eIDAS 2.0, they promised a revolutionary transformation: a single, secure digital identity for seamless cross-border use.

This ambitious initiative might seem like the definitive solution to Europe’s fragmented digital identity landscape, a "silver bullet". However, a deeper look through the lens of wicked problems reveals a more nuanced reality. This perspective compels us to see the EUDI Wallet not as a final fix, but as an essential starting point, demanding cautious optimism rather than blind faith or cynical dismissal.

Understanding wicked problems: beyond simple solutions

The concept of wicked problems was first introduced in 1973 by design theorists Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber to describe a category of challenges that defy conventional problem-solving approaches. Unlike tame problems in mathematics or engineering that have clear parameters and definitive solutions, wicked problems are characterised by fundamental complexity that resists resolution.

Wicked problems possess ten defining characteristics that make them particularly intractable. They lack a definitive formulation because understanding the problem depends on understanding potential solutions. They have no stopping rule since there is no clear signal indicating when the problem is solved. Solutions are not true or false but only better or worse, and stakeholders will disagree on what constitutes improvement. Every attempted solution is consequential and irreversible, “every trial counts”.