The new electronic identity cards, which were due to be rolled out nationwide in November 2024, have been delayed due to technical difficulties during the testing phase of the new chip.
Electronic identity card. Photo: Inquam Photos
In August of last year, the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MAI) started technical tests for the new electronic identity cards, based on a more technologically advanced chip, compared to the one used in the pilot project carried out in Cluj county, in 2021, according to HotNews. The new chip, which has a dual interface (contact and contactless), is part of a technological generation of 3-4 years ago, while the chip used in the pilot tests was 13-14 years older. This new chip will be included in electronic ID cards and will have a larger data storage capacity.
The ministry explained that tests with the more advanced chip raised certain technical issues, which encountered difficulties at the level of IT infrastructure and integration with existing systems. Thus, the MAI announced that the deadline for issuing electronic books will be changed, and the exact date of release will be communicated after the completion of technical tests.
What technical difficulties have arisen?
According to the MAI, the technical difficulties were related to:
- Interconnection of IT infrastructures;
- Elimination of technical errors;
- Operationalization of the PKI infrastructure (Public Key Infrastructure), which is necessary for issuing advanced signature digital certificates that will be stored on the chip of the electronic identity card.
Despite these, the Ministry emphasized that most of the technical issues have been resolved, and work is now underway to complete all activities to ensure the implementation of the new electronic identity cards.
European funds will not be lost
In the context of the delays, the issue of the risk of losing the 150 million euros allocated through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) for issuing the new electronic identity cards was also raised. The MAI clarified this matter and explained that the European funds will not be lost.
“The money from the PNRR will not be suspended/lost if the CEI issuance does not start in 2024. According to the Annex to the Council’s Implementation Decision amending the Implementation Decision of 29 October 2021, no CEI issuance date is foreseen as a condition for the allocated funds, but only the deadline by which the CEI 5 million target must be reached, i.e. June 30, 2026“, the MAI transmitted.
Thus, the deadline for the implementation of the project remains June 30, 2026, and the amounts from the PNRR will be related to the number of e-books issued and the investments needed for the infrastructure that will support this project.
The Ministry of the Interior has also made an estimate for the year 2025, according to which at least 3,350,000 electronic identity cards will be issued. They will be issued at the request of the citizens, and the authorities will monitor their number in order to meet the annual objectives.
“The identity document is issued at the request of the citizen. Reported to the year 2025, the objective will be at least 3,350,000 CEIs issued“, said the representatives of the MAI.
The functionalities of the new electronic identity card
The new electronic identity cards will also add the role of the national health card, integrating authentication in the IT systems of the public administration, including the IT system of the National Health Insurance House. Thus, the use of electronic identity cards will become an essential tool in accessing online public services.
Also, Romania committed, through PNRR, to the development of 11 public services that will be accessible through the new electronic identity cards. Although the PNRR does not explicitly detail what these services are, the Romanian authorities have proposed a preliminary list, which includes:
“Although the PNRR does not specify what these services are, Romania has proposed a non-exhaustive list of services, which may undergo changes, depending on the opportunity to develop them to achieve the goal of increasing the attractiveness of the CEl, but also depending on possible technological developments that may influence associated administrative processes”.
This list refers to:
a) Registration of residence;
b) Automatic issuance of the residence certificate in Romania;
c) Automatic issuance of the certificate of previous residences in Romania;
d) Change of home address;
e) Receiving requests for modification/correction of personal data;
f) Transmitting and receiving specific agreements (eg, consent agreement for taking into space);
g) Verification of the validity of identity documents;
h) Verification of personal data, including the history of data stored in the National Register of Personal Records;
i) Online programming (for the consumption of various services);
j) Renewal of the digital certificate of authentication/advanced electronic signature;
k) Dematerialization of the electronic identity card (creation of a digital document that can be presented with a mobile device).”
