Prague, the capital city of the Czech Republic, is actively working to establish a unified and interconnected system for digitalizing state administration, in compliance with the law on the right to digital services by January 2025. Currently, the city council and individual municipalities employ diverse forms and procedures, posing challenges to streamlining the digitalization process. To achieve this ambitious goal, cooperation and division of tasks into comprehensible units are essential, according to Councilman Daniel Mazur and Deputy Minister for Legislation Ondřej Profant.

Prague initiated its digitalization journey by introducing the Prague Portal, a platform that enables citizens to address various municipal matters, such as parking, online. However, the city’s intricate administrative landscape, characterized by autonomous municipal areas with their own information systems and processing procedures, has made the digitalization process more complex. Mazur, as the guarantor of digitalization, emphasized the city’s responsibility to ensure that citizens’ right to digital services is fulfilled.

The city must complete the digitalization process by the end of January 2025. Prague 2 municipality has recently expanded its services by introducing electronic payment gateways, enabling citizens to electronically pay most local fees and fines. Now, the city and municipalities must collectively decide which administrative areas to digitalize and establish a timeline for implementation.

The existing lack of uniformity in forms and procedures leads to duplicated personal data, requiring citizens to repeatedly input information into various systems. Collaboration between the city and municipalities is imperative to create a cohesive and interconnected system that functions seamlessly throughout the city. The Prague Portal serves as a notable example of digitalization, enabling citizens to address various fees and provide feedback on the Metropolitan Plan, regardless of their place of residence.

Recognizing the complexity of the digitalization process, especially given the differing systems used by the city and municipalities, Mazur expressed confidence that the deadline will be met. Successful cooperation between the city and municipalities is crucial to ensure effective access to digital services for citizens.

Article by Prague Forum