Kosovo and Montenegro Agree on Mutual Recognition of Electronic Identification

Kosovo and Montenegro have formalized an agreement providing for the mutual recognition of trust services and electronic identification.

Kosovo’s acting Minister of Digitalization and Public Administration, Lulëzon Jagxhiu, said during the signing ceremony that the agreement paves the way for citizens and businesses in both countries to have qualified trust services and electronic identification schemes mutually recognized.

Jagxhiu: Agreement with Montenegro enables mutual recognition of electronic identification

He said the agreement covers the mutual recognition of qualified trust services and electronic identification schemes between the Republic of Kosovo and Montenegro. According to him, relations between the two countries are friendly and are based on shared values, mutual respect and the common goal of joining the European Union. Jagxhiu described the signed agreement as a new step in strengthening bilateral relations.

The acting minister stressed that Kosovo is advancing with reforms for digital transformation, citing the e-Kosova platform as one of its main pillars. He said that citizens and businesses can already access more than 320 electronic services through the platform.

According to Jagxhiu, work is also continuing to expand and modernize the interoperability platform, as well as to change the service delivery model. This approach, he said, aims to provide services built around life events that are personalized, integrated and proactive. The agenda also includes the transition to Cloud technologies, modernization of the government network and the implementation of electronic identification through the Digital Wallet, which is in the process of being launched.

Meanwhile, Montenegro’s Minister of Public Administration, Marash Dukaj, said the agreement with Kosovo on the mutual recognition of trust services and electronic identification carries particular importance for citizens, businesses and the path toward European integration.

Dukaj said he was pleased to be in Prishtina, describing the agreement as a step that removes digital borders between the two countries.

Dukaj: We are removing digital borders with Kosovo

He said that Albanians in Montenegro regard Prishtina as their own place and that the formal signing of this agreement gives special significance to the visit. According to Dukaj, removing digital borders with the Republic of Kosovo is important above all for citizens of both countries, who live and work in Kosovo and Montenegro.

The Montenegrin minister added that the benefits of the agreement are not limited to citizens, but also extend to businesses and overall cooperation, which he described as essential for their joint integration into the European Union. He stressed that Montenegro is formally leading in these processes and that he believes and hopes they will be completed by the end of 2028.

Dukaj said Montenegro is ready to share its experience with Kosovo in various fields, while also learning from it. He said the two countries are at almost the same level, as Montenegro is ahead in some sectors while Kosovo has an advantage in others. According to him, cooperation between the two countries is expected to intensify in the future.

He underlined that the signing is also linked to the Growth Plan and thanked Minister Jagxhiu in particular for his commitment to achieving intensive cooperation. Dukaj said the agreement was finalized within a very short period. He added that Montenegro aims to sign such an agreement with all Western Balkan countries by the end of October, describing this as a major achievement for the countries’ aspirations toward the European Union.