The public administration reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been restarted after a long pause caused by a lack of political will.
With the recent constitution of the Coordinating Committee for Public Administration Reform, activities began to fulfill another recommendation from the Opinion of the European Commission on Bosnia and Herzegovina’s request for membership in the European Union.
Citizens accustomed to long waits in front of the counters of public institutions in hope that administrative services will be more accessible in the future.
The initiation of digitalization of public administration is among the most important priorities, which in practice would enable easier procedures for citizens and the economy and lower costs of administrative services.
“We want to start the digitization process in the coming period and to provide citizens with faster, more functional access to information and documents, especially in the economy where they lose a lot on technical things in the counter rooms, which could be done electronically,” says Darko Kasap, director of the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina for RTRS.
A key prerequisite for the functioning and use of electronic signatures is the adoption of the law on electronic signatures at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
“Our institutions are ready for that, but the legal frameworks still need to be harmonized in order for it to be applicable on a daily basis. I believe that in the coming period we will “untie” that problem, which is the key to the entire digitalization”, says Kasap.
In contrast to Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the countries of the region, especially in Serbia, digitization and electronic business became even more important during the Covid pandemic because citizens received numerous digital services.
The government’s willingness and ability to improve public administration also has an impact on the European path, as it is part of the First Cluster of the revised methodology for accession to the European Union. This means that progress in public administration is reflected in other sectors as well.