Minister Pribilović signs Memorandum of Understanding between EU and Montenegro on participation in ISA² programme

(Brussels, 29 May 2018)-- Minister of Public Administration Suzana Pribilović and European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society Mariya Gabriel signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the European Union and Montenegro on the participation of Montenegro in the programme for interoperability solutions and a common framework for European public administration, economy and citizens-ISA² programme.

"In Montenegro, where the availability of cross-border services continues to be an obstacle to the development of e-government, there is already a justified need to participate in the ISA² programme. This is also a step further in the preparation of public administration in the part of ICT, especially in the area of interoperability and interconnectivity of Montenegrin administration information systems and the use of existing ISA² solutions, as well as planning future activities within the Programme,"Minister Pribilović said.

Minister Pribilović stressed out that through membership in the ISA² programme, Ministry of Interior can use a very expensive European STESTA platform, which serves to transfer confidential information and a highly secure transmission of unprotected information. Also, Montenegro has at its disposal standardized semantic resources for a higher level of interoperability of the IT system , with concrete software solutions and opportunities for Montenegrin IT companies to participate in tenders, which are implemented within the ISA² programme, as well as free technical support.

Montenegro is the first country in the Western Balkans to join the EU ISA² programme for better digital public services and cross-border interoperability.

In June 2014, the European Commission adopted a proposal for a new programme to support interoperable solutions for public administrations, businesses and citizens of the EU - ISA², whose overall goal is to achieve full interoperability between different IT systems that provide electronic public services, both in member states and at the EU level. Interoperability, electronic governance and open data represent the basis for further modernisation of public administration and increasing the efficiency and quality of public services. Most importantly, they receive cross-border electronic public services, which include, inter alia, services of the internal market, environment, internal affairs, customs and taxes, health, electronic identity and public procurement.