The digital wallet of Montenegro, which would unite various personal documents, such as driver's license, health card, etc. in one place, in a mobile application, could be available to citizens from 2028, provided that the proposed text of the law on electronic identification and services is adopted beforehand, and then about 40 by-laws necessary for its implementation are passed. In addition, it will be necessary to provide administration - to establish a new organizational unit in the Ministry of Public Administration (MPA), as well as to provide finances for salaries...
On Thursday, the government approved the Draft Law on Electronic Identification and Services, which, they said, would "significantly improve the field of electronic identification and trust services."
"The implementation of the proposed regulation seeks to enable citizens and businesses to conduct secure electronic business based on trust," they stated, among other things.
Minister of Public Administration Marash Dukaj on Thursday announced that by approving the Proposal, the MPA "has ensured the legal prerequisites for the introduction of the Digital Wallet of Montenegro":
"Which will bring together services such as an electronic driver's license, health card, diploma and other services for citizens on a mobile platform," he wrote on the X network.
The current Law on e-Identification and e-Signature was adopted in 2017, and amended two years later and harmonized with the then applicable EU Regulation (eIDAS Regulation), which has been revised in the meantime, and in the meantime, since April 2024, the provisions of Regulation No. 202481183 amending Regulation (EU) No. 910/2014 as regards the establishment of a European digital identity framework (eiDAS 2) have been in force.
In the explanatory memorandum to the Proposal, the MPA explains that the revised European framework is expected to enable the implementation of one of the EU goals - that at least 80 percent of citizens have the opportunity to use electronic identity to access key public services by 2030. It is also added that the previous framework did not include the provision of electronic attributes, such as medical certificates and professional qualifications, which made their recognition across Europe difficult. In addition, it is explained, users could not limit the sharing of identity data to what is strictly necessary for the provision of such a service.
"The draft law, first of all, is aligned with the eIDAS 2 Regulation and the proposal supplements the existing methods of electronic identification by prescribing the conditions for a digital identity wallet, in order to enable every citizen to have access to a secure electronic identity, which they can use for identification and authentication when accessing public and private sector services," states the explanation of the proposed text, which the Government established at its session on Thursday.
It is also added that a harmonized framework for digital identity will contribute to "reducing digital barriers and enabling citizens to benefit from the benefits of digitalization without difficulty after entering the EU, while at the same time increasing transparency and protecting their rights."
In addition to allowing citizens to track all transactions, the digital identity wallet, MPA explains, is also used for signing with a qualified electronic signature.
It is added that the proposal prescribes rules for electronic verification of attributes and that this will enable citizens to prove that they possess a driver's license, social security or other document...
The draft law also includes a legal framework for electronic signatures, seals, electronic time stamps, electronic documents, electronic registered delivery services, certificates for website authentication...
For the implementation of regulations, it is necessary to provide financial resources from the budget.
The Reform Agenda of Montenegro 2024-2027. for the EU Instrument for Reforms and Growth, for the needs of implementing regulations, for three years, has foreseen about 11,58 million euros. Of this, by the end of this year and the end of 2027, about 9,2 million are foreseen. As planned, by the end of this year, the minimum expected is an agreement on the recognition of trust services with the Western Balkan countries and participation in the Balkan digital identity wallet, and by the end of 2027, the plan is a full introduction, which will enable connection to public administration services and full participation in the EU digital wallet.
The MPA states that in order to establish a digital identity wallet, it is necessary to establish a new organizational unit in that department and provide around 334 thousand euros per year for 20 employees.
It is also added that it is necessary to strengthen the inspection service, and that around 82,6 thousand euros should be provided annually for five employees.
For employees of the Cyber Security Agency and the State Administration CIRT, who, it is explained, are obliged by law to control information security measures... another 355,86 thousand, or almost 80 thousand euros, are needed annually.
In order to implement the Bill, it is planned to adopt around 40 by-laws, which, according to the public administration department, require additional financial resources, but it is not possible to predict more precisely what amount is involved.
The digital wallet will be free for citizens and will be used voluntarily.
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