Alexander Yolovski, SEGA: E-government is operating, the issue also concerns citizens’ individual desire

He presented the main e-government components in real environment and demonstrated the application of each component to the forum participants using various means of eID.

The usage of available and actually operating e-government components is also a matter of citizens’ individual desire and need. These were the words of Mr Alexander Yolovski, Deputy Chairperson of the State e-Government Agency (SEGA), at the 19th Annual e-Government Conference titled ‘E-government – services for citizens’. He presented the main e-government components in real environment and demonstrated the application of each component to the forum participants using various means of electronic identification.

It is impossible to implement e-government without reliable means of identification. Therefore, the SEGA Deputy Chairperson noted, until a national electronic identification scheme is deployed, citizens and businesses may use available means of identification in an electronic environment (qualified electronic signatures, PINs, PICs, etc.). ‘It is untrue to state that Bulgarian citizens have no available means of electronic identification. In addition to them, however, active citizens’ involvement is also needed’, Mr Alexander Yolovski called on to the conference participants.

The SEGA Deputy Chairperson demonstrated actually operating key e-government components maintained by the Agency: the Registry Information eXchange system (https://regix-service.egov.bg/); the e-Authentication and secure e-Delivery modules, and the central component of the electronic payments e-government, i.e. the e-payment portal https://pay.egov.bg/ which operates as an e-wallet for citizens.

The outdated legal framework is the major obstacle to the expedited reduction of administrative burden, connecting the source registers and ex officio provision of information. It is the so-called ‘special laws’ that require citizens to bring and present in person hard copy certificates. ‘Even where an administration is allowed to access information ex officio, it has no legal ground to do so: this is not a deficiency of the e-government but of the legal basis, of the attitude and of the ‘paper’ processes themselves. This is what we should overcome as soon as possible’, Mr Alexander Yolovski commented before the forum participants.

‘It is not uncommon for the current e-government achievements not to be perceived by citizens in their daily life. The systems are available and operating. Citizens should require not only politicians, but also administrations of all levels, to really use the e-government components and provide e-services. E-government is operating and any statements to the contrary are untrue’, Mr Alexander Yolovski firmly said.