Citizen-centric public services in the Western Balkans: Webinar 2 - Digital identity and trust services, 31 May 2022. Presentation by Pranvera Kastrati and Tanja Maraš, Regional Co-operation Council (RCC).

1. REGIONAL INTEROPERABILITY AND
TRUST SERVICES
Pranvera Kastrati
Senior Expert on Economic and Digital Connectivity &
Coordinator of Common Regional Market
31 May2022,online

2. Background and context
1. Common Regional Market 2021-2024:
 Recognition of e-signatures & other forms of eIDs and trust services based
on the relevant EU acquis;
 Minimum technical standards & specifications to allow an exchange of data
and documents;
2. WB Digital Summits:
 MoU on Regional Interoperability and Trust Services in WB; Join Statement
(JS) on Interoperable WB; WB DS Conclusions
3. Regional Study on Interoperability and trust services
 Vision & planning; piloting
4. Dedicated on-demand support

3. Regional Interoperability and Trust Services in
Western Balkans
VISION
“Interoperable Western Balkan – a fully
interoperable region”
Figure 1. Vision - Interoperable Western Balkan

4. Interoperable Western Balkans – ambition
 eIDs and trust services are mutually recognized;
 Public (and private) services are accessible via recognized eID schemes;
 All public entities accept eIDAS qualified e-signature(s);
 Public & private entities & natural persons can easily sign and validate e-
signature on documents, including on cross-border/boundary documents;
 Economy level implemented Interoperability Platforms are operational and
interconnected;
 Once-only principle is widely introduced.

5. Expected results
 At least one cross-border/boundary uses case offered to businesses
and citizens;
 Economy level issued ID schema recognized with WB following IDs
schema recognition in EU;
 Better prepared to negotiate with EU recognition of economy level ID
schemas issued;
 Trust list mutually recognized within WB – compliant with article 14
of eIDAS;
 WB better prepared to negotiate with EU recognition of trust list

6. 6
Regional level Action Plan

7. Economy level Components – prerequisite for regional
advancement

8. Main challenges to the implementation
 Different pace of EU integration – varied policy objective at
economy level;
 Different level of EU acquis alignment – prerequisite for inclusive
regional actions;
 Different stage of development of interoperability platforms and
user environment – online service availability and
interconnected platforms ;
 Internal capacities and resources – availability of adequate
administrative and financial resources;
 Uneven market preparedness across the region;

9. Proposed regional coordination platforms
1. Regional level coordination - regional WG on interoperability
and trust services, with three working level platforms:
1.1. Interoperability and cross-border/boundary WG;
1.2. IDs notification WG;
1.3. Trust list recognition WG

10. Regional interoperability - Piloting

11. Next steps
1. Agree on 1-2 use-cases to be implemented widely in the
region;
2. Follow up preparation of technical specification and
prototypes to be used;
3. Engaging in regional practical solutions with no binding
approaches;
4. Increase awareness and showcase results – evidence-based
confidence building;

12. THANK YOU
For any additional question:
pranvera.kastrati@rcc.int

13. Thank you!
Regional Cooperation Secretariat
Trg Bosne i Hercegovine 1/V
71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Tel: +387 33 561 700
Fax: +387 33 561 701
Mob: +387 61 190 601
www:rcc.int
Twitter:@rcccint
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