Slovakia: free official email accounts to be introduced

Electronic communications are to be improved between public authorities, and between those authorities and citizens or businesses.

This is intended to prevent situations where individuals or businesses are required to provide documents to one public authority that are already available from another public authority.

One key change will be the introduction of free, official email accounts for all state authorities, citizens and legal entities. Entrepreneurs will receive free email accounts from the Government Office without undue delay once they are granted a trading licence. Citizens will have an email account created automatically on their 15th birthday. Foreign entities may also apply for an email account. Everyone will keep the email account for their entire life, and they will be used to deliver official documents electronically (or electronic advice of delivery in the case of official documents delivered by hand).

This means that everyone will receive a unique authentication code (a secure personal code issued with their microchip-embedded ID cards) to identify themselves in their communications with state authorities.

Integrated service points (at authorities, notary offices or post offices etc) will be set up to help people who lack the necessary technical equipment or skills in electronic communication.

The new email accounts should be created within 3 months of the legislation coming into force (expected to be on 1 September 2013) and should be activated within a further 18 months. However, particular state authorities encountering technical difficulties will be allowed to postpone the transition to email communication for three years.