Towards Next Generation eGovernment: Cashless Payments and Digital Identity Wallet

Donor: Visa 
Beneficiaries: Businesses, citizens, public administration
Implementation Period: April 3, 2025 – October 31, 2025

NALED, through the eGovernment Alliance, collaborates with key institutions on the development of digital services. One of the main challenges in this process is the inability to make electronic payments for non-tax charges (such as fees and administrative charges). Additionally, inconsistencies between the Registry of Administrative Procedures and the Catalogue of Procedures further complicate the digitalization process. This long-standing reform has also been recognized in the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, with the goal of enabling electronic payment of all fees and charges by the end of 2026.

Another key challenge concerns the simplification of personal data updates, aimed at reducing administrative burdens and costs for citizens. For instance, changing one’s place of residence currently requires visiting multiple counters and updating various documents. One potential solution is the introduction of a Digital Identity Wallet, which would allow secure storage and use of personal documents in electronic form. At the EU level, the new eIDAS 2.0 Regulation has been adopted, aiming to implement the first model of a Digital Identity Wallet across the EU by November 2026. In alignment with European standards, Serbia is working on transposing and implementing this regulation into its national legislation, through a dedicated Working Group tasked with drafting amendments to the Law on Electronic Document, Electronic Identification, and Trust Services in Electronic Business. This initiative is also part of Serbia's Reform Agenda, with the goal of adopting eIDAS 2.0 by the end of 2025. The implementation of the Digital Identity Wallet has also been recognized as a priority by the eGovernment Alliance.

To support the resolution of these challenges, the project "Towards Next Generation eGovernment" aims to contribute to the further digitalization of public services. It also seeks to enhance the efficiency and transparency of public revenue collection and simplify the payment process for public fees and charges for citizens and entrepreneurs, by improving the system for electronic payments of taxes and fees in Serbia. Additionally, the project aims to facilitate personal data updates and develop digital tools for electronic identification and authentication, thus ensuring seamless interaction with public administration.

Activities
Key project activities include:

• Development of Instructions for the standardization of existing administrative procedure databases;
• Matching data between the Registry of Administrative Procedures and the Catalogue of Procedures, in accordance with the developed Instructions;
• Preparation of an Ex-ante analysis for the implementation of the EU eIDAS 2.0 Regulation, aimed at establishing a Digital Identity Wallet in Serbia;
• Organizing advocacy meetings with relevant institutions and public authorities.