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Europe is rewriting the rules of the digital era and Slovakia must adapt. Digitalization projects are continuing, but time and money are tight, and the focus is shifting to life-event-based services, modern infrastructure, and the responsible use of AI. The state secretary explains what this means for citizens by the middle of next year as well as for Slovakia’s role in a digitally sovereign Europe.

European sovereignty is changing the course of digitalization

Europe emphasizes technological sovereignty and is seeking its own path, which is reflected in new priorities and revisions of strategies. Slovakia is aligning them with partners in the EU and reassessing how to meet the goals more effectively. A signal of this is the recent summit in Berlin, after which the emphasis on faster innovation and less bureaucracy is growing.

Digitalization projects in Slovakia have not been halted; the review concerns only selected public procurements. There is a difference between the project itself with a goal for the citizen and the way a solution is procured from public funds. The ministry says delivery is continuing while processes are being tightened so that expenditures are eligible and aligned with strategies. The aim is to gain time for oversight without slowing outcomes.

Money, deadlines, and 16 life events

The state budget has no room for large digital investments, so it relies mainly on two sources: Program Slovensko and Plán obnovy, each with approximately 600 million euros. Plán obnovy ends in June of next year, which is pushing for the completion of ongoing projects. The entire package of life events is more than two years behind schedule; the last contracts were still being added last year. The current focus is on catching up and ensuring compliance with the rules so that expenditures are recognized.

Citizens should experience fewer visits to offices and more being able to handle things from home at key moments in life, such as the birth of a child, moving, or buying property. The state should not repeatedly ask for the same data, forms are to be prefilled and signatures electronic. What is visible to the citizen rests on extensive modernization in the background – from basic infrastructure to cloud services. Investments are thus directed not only to the front end, but also to reliable operations.

NKIVS 2030, sandbox, and Slovakia’s role

The new national concept of informatization through 2030 is in inter-ministerial consultation and is to be finalized by December 31. It promotes digital offices, life-event-driven services, unified accessible data, a modern cloud, and cybersecurity. The goal is to break down departmentalism and increase transparency across ministries so that the citizen does not feel differences and has a single entry point. Instead of competing in the number of mobile applications, the state is to unify the approach and simplify services.

Europe is preparing a regulatory "sandbox" and omnibus for artificial intelligence to accelerate innovation while maintaining safety. Companies will be able to test solutions in a real ecosystem for 6 to 12 months, invoice as normal, and at the same time verify what needs to be adjusted in legislation or products. Slovakia wants to contribute especially in the area of AI, where it co-chairs a global partnership within the OECD, and its voice is heard also at the UN and in EU bodies.

1on1 interview

European sovereignty is changing the course of digitalization

Money, deadlines, and 16 life events

NKIVS 2030, sandbox, and Slovakia’s role

Radoslav Štefánek

Recommendation speakers

Johanna-Kadri Kuusk

Vanda Tuxhorn

Christian Kumar

Lukáš Benzl

1on1 interview

European sovereignty is changing the course of digitalization

Money, deadlines, and 16 life events

NKIVS 2030, sandbox, and Slovakia’s role

Radoslav Štefánek

Recommendation speakers

Johanna-Kadri Kuusk

Vanda Tuxhorn

Christian Kumar

Lukáš Benzl

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