Description

In this paper we argue that the provision of highly accessible and integrative electronic services for citizens and businesses require reliable state level electronic identification and authentication management that offers at least the same level of security and data integrity as existing (semi)manual systems. We illustrate that by presenting and juxtaposing two conceptually different, but exceptionally well implemented eID systems (Austria and Belgium), as well as the case of country without implemented eID system (Bosnia and Herzegovina). First two case studies clearly demonstrate that a successful implementation of eID system at the national level radically improves the interaction between clients and service providers, while the later case shows that without nationally implemented eID system, even well designed and implemented e-Government systems, cannot transform the potential into optimal performance and provide integrated and easily accessible services to citizens and businesses.