Dutch MPs have major objections to EU plans to introduce unique and permanent identification numbers for a digital European ID card and on Thursday called on government to take action.

MPs voted in favour of two motions, submitted by ChristenUnie MP Don Ceder and D66 MP Hind Dekker-Abdulaziz which called on the government to ensure the new EU ID card would not be compulsory and would not result in large-scale personal data gathering by the EU, individual EU states or major corporations.

EU plans for an EU-wide digital identity card, or wallet app, that will enable citizens to identify themselves and share electronic documents across the European Union have already come under fire from privacy experts.

MPs also voted in favour of a second motion, submitted by Ceder, pointing out the dangers and risks of the new system. The motion also called on the government to do its utmost to garner support against the unique ID number and to work on alternatives.

Economic affairs minister Micky Adriaansens and digitalisation minister Alexandra van Huffelen are also opposed to the EU plan, which will be discussed at a ministers meeting in Straasburg on Friday.

A majority of EU countries want to make the sharing of documents, such as birth certificates, easier across borders via a digital ID system.