Digital society

What is digital transformation?

Digital transformation is the reorganization / improvement of business processes with the help of all available digital tools and technologies In public administration, it means the improvement of business processes and the provision of services in electronic and digital form.

In order for this to be possible, it is necessary to adopt appropriate regulations, to improve the knowledge and skills of our employees, but also to continuously, following the needs of citizens, create new electronic services for citizens.

It is a continuous process that is not always simple, but without which business and life in today's world is not possible.

 Digital transformation is driven by the needs of you users - citizens and the economy, and that is the basis of digital transformation. Every service should come from the real needs of the citizens. There is no good administration and real service to citizens without quality e-government.

Digital transformation of public administration

The processes of digital transformation of public administration and the introduction of electronic services are an important part of the process of public administration reform. The Government of Montenegro and the Ministry of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media have recognized the importance and values of eGovernment and we strive to fully implement this concept.

Our goal is to build simple, fast and better public services for citizens and the economy.

In order to achieve the transformation, there must be a change primarily from within, through the application of practices and approach to the way of solving problems in the public administration itself. In the coming period, we will incorporate practices from private industry, based on multidisciplinary teams, project-oriented agile management, as well as changes in the business culture within the Government where you as users are at the center of all our policies. We will create all policies and services based on your needs, and only when we start creating services around the needs of citizens, then we can really affect people's lives.

Certainly, an important segment in the process of establishing eGovernment is the electronic communication of the state with you, citizens and business entities. Modernization of business processes, without physical presence, leads to the digitalization of business processes, precisely through the use of information and communication technologies.

In that direction, numerous projects have been launched at all levels of government, which should ensure greater efficiency of business processes and better quality of services.

In the coronary virus pandemic, digital transformation has additionally gained its use value in those who are closer to traditional ways of communication and work. Many processes now take place entirely electronically in all areas. Whether corona or not, we encourage you to make the most of the benefits of new technologies, to change habits and to adapt to the new way of communicating with management. 

Normative framework 

The Ministry of Public Administration, Digital Society and Media is responsible for creating a comprehensive normative framework that will ensure digitalization in full capacity, both within public administration and in the procedures that citizens and businesses have with public administration. The key laws regulating this area are: the Law on Electronic Administration, the Law on Electronic Identification and Electronic Signature, the Law on Information Security and the Law on Electronic Document.

The legal framework for digital transformation is in a constant process of harmonization with EU directives. In that process, we are constantly working on improving the legal framework, but we also give opinions and guidelines to other bodies so that all regulations issued by other bodies are harmonized with these systemic laws, thus overcoming and reducing barriers to digital transformation.

 Strategic planning

 Strategic planning is also an important segment of the work of this Ministry in the area of public administration reform, digital transformation and cyber security. These strategic documents, which have been the backbone of development for several years, are adopted for a four-year or five-year period in order to identify development trends in individual areas.

The development of the digital society permeates all strategic documents, as it is a driver of innovation, modernization, competitiveness and comprehensive socio-economic development. Our activities are focused on cooperation with the private, academic and civil sector, international organizations, as well as good intersectoral cooperation with the aim of creating a modern eGovernment, raising the level of information security and greater digitalization of society as a whole. It is the quality and sustainable strategic framework that must ensure a common direction in development in all areas of public administration.

Provision of services

The provision of services to citizens is one of the basic activities in public administration, and the processes of digitalization of services should enable efficient, transparent and quality provision of services. Digital solutions that are offered to you, in the form of electronic services and communication platforms, should rely on modern technological solutions, optimized processes and services aimed at the needs of citizens, businesses and public administration.

To this end, a unique counter for all eServices of public administration has been recognized - the eGovernment portal www.euprava.me .

One of the preconditions for raising the level of sophistication of eServices is the development of an electronic payment system, which will complete the process of a complete eService. This system will also improve the existing eServices, because citizens will be able to submit electronic requests in one place, pay certain obligations to the state, and the public administration will have control over all payments.

Data exchange between institutions - less confirmation

Also, one of the pillars of digitalization is the information system for electronic data exchange, which is popularly called GSB or JISERP as abbreviation.

This unique information system for electronic data exchange enables authorities, i.e. other entities to exchange data from the electronic registers they keep and the information systems they manage.

Thanks to this system, there will be no need to bring certificates and documents issued by other state administration bodies, because the data will be exchanged ex officio in accordance with the Law on Administrative Procedure. This saves your time and money, because you no longer have to personally bring various types of certificates as proof that you are registered in a register or similar.

In the previous two years, as long as the system exists, twelve (12) registers have been connected through this system, between which electronic data exchange is performed: central population register, central business register, central education register, customs central register, then central material benefits register, and so on.

This system is responsible for the development of many electronic services: exercising the right to material security, checking the payment of health insurance contributions, electronic enrollment of children in primary schools and kindergartens, keeping internal records of the authorities.