On Thursday, February 4, the Cabinet of Ministers approved amendments to the order of the Cabinet of Ministers No. 347 of 27 July 2011 "On the Description of the Information System Operation Concept" Development of Passport System and Unified Migration Information System for Issuance of Electronic Identification Cards and Electronic Residence Permits (Cards) " ".
The amendments provide for the allocation of additional financial resources to the Latvian State Radio and Television Center (LVRTC) during the period from 2021 to 2023, EUR 1,546,386 per year, in order to successfully maintain and improve such tasks delegated by the Office of Citizenship and Migration Affairs (OCMA) as eSignature and creation of electronic authentication tools, delivery and maintenance in identity cards or eID cards issued by the OCMA, as well as provision of eParaksts mobile and personal electronic identity certificates.
"Under the influence of the pandemic the use of digital solutions has become a daily necessity. Both the eID card and the mobile E-signature are a user-friendly set of universal tools for receiving various services and business development offered by the digital environment. Together with LVRTC, we are constantly working to improve the quality of these services in order to provide high level services to customers, ”commented Mr Dimitrijs Trofimovs, the State Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior.
The allocated additional funds will be invested in the improvement and modernization of service quality, as well as consultations and support will be provided for the integration of eSignature, electronic identity and time stamping solutions in the information systems of public administration and businesses. LVRTC will also be involved in informing and educating the public about the available e-signature tools and their benefits.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of e-signatures significantly has increased, and now it is particularly important to provide high-quality and modern, easily accessible digital services. According to LVRTC data, in 2020 the population used eSignature tools for authentication more than 2.8 million times, also, compared to 2019, e-Identity authentication with eSignature tools has doubled.
In order to ensure the introduction of passports, electronic identification cards and residence permits that meet the requirements of the European Union, funding will be required: in 2020 5 144 573 euros, in 2021 9 596 410 euros, in 2022 6 931 044 euros, in 2023 6 125 978 euros.
Prepared:
The Ministry of the Interior
Communication department