Yesterday's debates in the Chamber of Deputies focused on the matter of digitalising important personal cards, such as IDs, driving licenses, and social security.
During Wednesday's Chamber session, MP Gilles Roth from the Christian Social People's Party (CSV) enquired about the possibility of collecting several personal cards, including ID, driving license, and social security under one so-called 'citizen pass'.
In his response, Minister Delegate for Digitalisation Marc Hansen explained that there is in fact a project to unite at least two out of the three cards, meaning that one would no longer have to carry them around.
Minister Hansen noted: "The government already has the information found on the driving license and on the ID. We are now looking to get rid of the physical cards and replace them with a digital form. That way people can carry them on their phone ... in an electronic wallet."
Minister Hansen further stated that it would be easy to implement such a system nationally, but much more complicated to find agreement on a European level.
Some voices during the debate underlined the importance of advancing digitalisation in public administrations. Others warned that there is no way of replacing interpersonal contact.
MP Diane Adehm from the CSV said: "An email to an administration is good, but sometimes a citizen wants to know with whom exactly they are dealing. For older people in particular and for those more unfamiliar with our ways it is important to have the opportunity of taking a real appointment."
Soon, video appointments with administrative staff might also become possible, explained Minister Hansen. He highlighted the importance of further advancing digitalisation by conveying some statistics: the MyGuichet app has so far been downloaded 260,000, the Gouvcheck app 100,000, and the new GouvID app 25,000.
