Sarajevo, (Fena) – A modern and efficient public administration is essential for the European integration process of Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). To deliver secure, digital, and citizen-focused services, the country requires institutions that meet European Union (EU) standards. This necessity was addressed through the EU-funded “Twinning” project, valued at 800,000 euros, which has supported the Agency for Identification Documents, Registers, and Data Exchange (IDDEEA) over the past two years.
Experts from Italy and Finland collaborated with their Bosnian counterparts to enhance the technical and institutional capacities of IDDEEA, achieving advancements in five key areas: e-services delivery, information systems security and quality, open data initiatives, compliance with EU legal acquis, and capacity building along with human resource development.
The project’s completion was celebrated in Sarajevo at a conference that gathered institutional stakeholders and showcased the primary outcomes.
– This project marks a significant advancement in the public administration reform in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a vital process for establishing an efficient, transparent, and citizen-centered administration. Through close collaboration with experts from Italy, Finland, and BiH, we focused on strengthening essential areas that will yield lasting benefits for citizens and aid BiH in aligning with EU standards. The EU remains dedicated to providing ongoing support for these reforms, understanding that a robust public administration is crucial for the country’s progression and its European integration journey – stated Adebayo Babajide, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Key results were achieved by fostering collaboration between EU experts and BiH partners to enhance local capacities.
This partnership resulted in the creation of eight practical guidelines for new e-services and cybersecurity standards, as well as a definitive plan for legislative and procedural reform. Through hands-on training, workshops, and ongoing knowledge exchange, public administration personnel enhanced their skills to better serve citizens and facilitate sustainable reform.
Representatives from Italy and Finland emphasized the significance of cooperation, which not only bolstered institutional capacities but also advanced transparency, ethical management of personal data, and inter-institutional collaboration in accordance with EU standards.
Almir Badnjević, Director of IDDEEA, expressed appreciation to the European Union and partner institutions, acknowledging that the “Twinning” project provided IDDEEA with practical tools and methodologies to enhance digital services for citizens, improve data protection, and build trust in public administration.
The project was implemented in collaboration with CSI Piemonte (Italy), HAUS Institute of Public Management Ltd (Finland), the Italian Data Protection Authority (GPDP), and Eutalia (Italy), with close cooperation from IDDEEA. (19.09.)
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