A faster road to EU: What is the crucial connection between digital transformation and the Reform Agenda?
One of the priorities of the Reform Agenda is to raise the quality of public services. The European Union and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany will support the preparation of the foundations for digital identity, as well as for strengthening the capacity of institutions and businesses to gain better access to EU funds available under the Digital Europe Programme.
How do we accelerate digital transformation in Bosnia and Herzegovina? How to strengthen the institutions of BiH, while unlocking the opportunities the European Union provides?
These issues were the focus of today’s conference marking the kick-off of the project “EU for Digital Transformation in BiH”, co-financed by the European Union and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. At the event, representatives of key public institutions in Bosnia and Herzegovina and European partners discussed the connection between digital transformation and the Reform Agenda, and analysed how institutions are moving from the crisis recovery phase to long-term digital sustainability.
Magdalena Mueller-Uri, Head of Cooperation at EU Delegation to BiH, announced a new initiative aimed at developing public services for the benefit of the citizens of BiH.
This is a support project worth €3.5 million, whose grant funds will be used to strengthen the digital capacities of 58 institutions. The project includes preparing the foundations for digital identity as well as supporting institutions and businesses to gain better access to European funds available in the Digital Europe Programme.
– In the next 30 months, this project will support reforms in data management, digital identity, cyber security and citizen-centred services. The project will significantly contribute to the joint goals of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the European Union in the field of digital technologies. The aim is to enable public institutions to undergo a digital transformation, which requires adequate equipment, grants and technical expertise. The European Union remains committed to digital transformation in BiH and will continue to build a stronger foundation of the BiH’s path to the European Union – Mueller-Uri said.
Arend Müller from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bosnia and Herzegovina pointed out that digital transformation is an essential part of the EU path.
– We view digital transformation as a fundamental reform of public administration, aimed at improving transparency and efficiency for the benefit of citizens and businesses. Improving data exchange, strengthening the digital skills of public officials is a strategic priority. Also, modern economies need innovation. We support access to EU funds and mechanisms such as Digital Innovation Hubs, to help local SMEs and start-ups digitize, strengthen and empower their own competitiveness and create jobs. This transformation requires the effort of all of us – governments, the private sector, international partners and civil society – to work together and achieve these goals – Müller said.
According to him, Germany fully supports this vital initiative and is optimistic that it will bring benefits to the citizens and the entire economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Digital transformation is one of the key pillars of the Reform Agenda, as it directly affects the efficiency of public administration, economic growth and the quality of services provided by the state to citizens and the economy. By modernizing administrative processes, introducing interoperability and exchanging data between institutions, BiH can significantly reduce administrative burdens, speed up procedures and increase transparency in the work of institutions.
Digitalization enables reform measures to be implemented faster, more consistently and at lower costs, which is key to meeting the obligations of the EU process and strengthening institutional stability. Electronic services, digitized registers and reliable identification systems contribute to the creation of an administration that is focused on citizens and the economy, while at the same time opening up space for greater public confidence in the work of institutions.
Digital transformation is not just a technological issue — it is a strategic commitment of a country that accelerates reforms, improves the business environment and brings the country closer to European standards in the management and delivery of public services.
Almir Badnjevic, Director of the Agency for Identification Documents, Registers, and Data Exchange (IDDEEA), emphasized the importance of systemic reform of public administration, i.e. the development of eGovernment, one of the most important elements of digital transformation.
He pointed out the importance of the project presented today, primarily because it provides support for the finalization of the last phase of the “digital wallet” project, which will be available to the citizens of BiH through the agency he heads.
– Also, the project is important because communication equipment will be provided in cooperation with the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which will connect 75 institutions in the territory of BiH in terms of communication and enable the exchange of data between them – Badnjević added.
Dario Perić from the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers of BiH pointed out that the project “EU 4 Digital Transformation in BiH” represents a significant step forward in the process of digital transformation of BiH institutions. He pointed out that one of the main goals of the project was to lean on the e-Government service of the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, which would ensure cyber security and increase the availability of services offered by the ‘Shared Services Centre’
– The e-Government service is the predecessor of the shared services centre and as such currently provides more than 30 services for institutions at the BiH level, so it is also a “kind of shared services centre” – said Perić.
The support from the European Union and the Government of Germany for the digital transformation arrived at just the right time. Although significant steps have already been made, citizens and businesses still do not have the opportunity to use all public administration services electronically. Currently, a partial approach dominates, in which institutions develop digital services separately, without fully taking into account the needs of citizens and businesses.
The process of digital transformation has only been partially implemented. It is necessary for all institutions to accept and apply new digital tools, further develop interoperability and build citizens’ and businesses’ trust in electronic services. Also, the technical infrastructure, personnel capacities and continuous harmonization with the laws should be further strengthened.
One of the priorities of the Reform Agenda is to raise the quality of public services. Digitalization provides citizens and the economy with faster, simpler and more reliable access to e-services, which directly affects the business environment, the level of customer satisfaction and the overall transparency of institutions. This brings BiH closer to the standards of the EU Member States, where digital government is the basic mechanism for providing public services.
Ultimately, the digital transformation of institutions is not just a technical project, but a process that needs to ensure long-term sustainable, cost-effective and open public administration. As an important part of the Reform Agenda, it represents a tool by which BiH can accelerate reform processes, reduce administrative barriers and create a modern state administration focused on the needs of citizens and European integration.
“EU for Digital Transformation” is part of the broader GIZ programme “Sustainable Economic Development and Employment Promotion (SEDEP) in BiH”, which is additionally co-financed by the Government of Switzerland in the area of vocational education and training.
