Zagreb - The e-Građanin (e-Citizen) system currently has 2.085 million users, Minister of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation Damir Habijan said in Parliament on Thursday, adding that the goal is to digitalise the entire state administration by 2030.
"The figure of 2.085 million users of the e-Građanin system shows that we are heading in the right direction," Habijan said during a parliamentary debate on the Bill on State Information Infrastructure, responding to HSLS MP Dario Hrebak, who asked when the full digitalisation of the state administration could be expected.
Habijan also said that there are already over 900 users of the Shared Services Centre and emphasised that the ultimate goal of digitalisation is to reduce the time citizens spend accessing public services. He underlined the ambition to achieve full digitalisation by 2030.
Presenting the Bill on State Information Infrastructure, the minister explained that it mandates state administration bodies, other state institutions, and public institutions founded by the Republic of Croatia to use the state information infrastructure.
Additionally, the infrastructure can be used by local and regional self-government units, legal entities with public authority, economic entities, and nonprofit legal entities.
The minister highlighted that, compared to the law adopted in 2014, the new legislation expands access to the state information infrastructure to a wider range of users at both state and local levels, and all entities using it will operate within a secure digital environment for communication with citizens.
"In light of recent events and the current geopolitical climate, cybernetics and cybersecurity have become key topics in most regulatory frameworks, and this ministry, responsible for digital transformation, is giving them considerable attention," he said.
He also noted that the bill defines the Shared Services Centre, which establishes the technical infrastructure for utilising common software solutions and similar services.
Habijan clarified that the bill also defines the State Information Infrastructure network, with HITRONet as the primary network. HITRONet is owned by the Republic of Croatia and serves as the security backbone of the information and communication network between users, providing shared network and alternative services, the minister said.
During a brief debate, MPs expressed support for the bill. SDP MP Marija Lugarić praised the substantial progress made in the past 11 years in this area. She noted that this progress is visible in the development of information infrastructure, the new way state institutions operate, especially their cooperation in data consolidation and exchange, and the improved manner in which the state communicates with citizens and vice versa.