The development of a modern, secure and citizen-centric digital government in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a strategic priority, aligned with the standards of the European Union and the goals of digital transformation. As part of the project for the establishment of an interoperable e-government infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina – DIGI – BiH, a workshop was held in Mostar from 11 to 13 March 2026 dedicated to the finalization of the Concept of the Interoperability Platform in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The concept of the platform outlines a practical and politically feasible approach to establish an interoperable e-government infrastructure platform in BiH that is sustainable and adapted to the country’s complex administrative structure. The concept proposes a hybrid model of interoperability, combining the strengths of decentralized data control with centralized governance elements. Drawing on successful international models, in particular the Estonian X-Road principles, the proposed hybrid approach enables secure data exchange on demand, while respecting data sovereignty and administrative autonomy.
Key components include: hybrid interoperability infrastructure, where each party controls its own data, registries, and security servers; a central trust framework and a register of technical standards for consistency and legal recognition; integration of basic e-government services (e-ID, e-Signature, e-Payment, e-Mailbox); Alignment with EU legislation such as the EIF, eIDAS, GDPR and the European Interoperability Act (2024/903); using open-source technologies where feasible, minimizing vendor lock-in, and enabling local adaptability.
The objectives of the workshop also refer to the presentation of the strategic vision for the Interoperable e-Government Infrastructure Platform and its expected practical results for citizens, businesses and public administration, identification and prioritization of key risks (legal, technical and organizational) related to the implementation of the proposed hybrid interoperability model, discussions and agreements on a phased plan for practical implementation, which includes administrative, legal and ICT dimensions, Establishing a common understanding of indicative timelines, responsibilities and sequence of activities for operationalizing the model, and defining clear steps towards finalizing the Concept and moving to implementation.
The Strategic Framework for Public Administration Reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina 2018-2022 (2027) clearly recognizes and emphasizes this topic, and further elaborates on it in the Revised Public Administration Reform Action Plan, with clearly defined responsible institutions and deadlines. The project “European Union Support for an Interoperable e-Government Platform in Bosnia and Herzegovina – DIGI BiH” directly contributes to the implementation of these strategic documents. Its goal is to support key decision-making and the construction of an interoperable e-government infrastructure in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In parallel with the workshop, the project also provides targeted support to the newly appointed structure of the Coordination for Interoperability of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina (Interoperability Coordination), including the organization of its constituent session. At the same time, the members of the Coordination are actively involved in the discussion on the Concept of Interoperability, with the aim of ensuring greater added value, stronger ownership, as well as stronger compliance of the recommended model with practical needs and the situation on the ground.
The workshop was attended by the Public Administration Reform Coordinator of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Darko Kasap, Secretary General of the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Robert Vidović, Minister of Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mr. Edin Forto, and representatives of the Agency for Identification Documents, Records and Data Exchange of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Justice of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Agency for Statistics of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Indirect Taxation Authority of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Delegation of the European Union to Bosnia and Herzegovina, GIZ and SIGMA. On behalf of the Public Administration Reform Coordinator’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in addition to the coordinator Kasap, Nedžib Delić, Head of the Operational Unit and Mubera Begić, Expert Advisor for Information Technology and Service Deliery, also participated.