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News in pictures: President Ilves met with the new Prime Minister of Latvia
02.03.2016
The meeting in Kadriorg between President Toomas Hendrik Ilves and the new Prime Minister of the Republic of Latvia, Māris Kučinskis, focused on our mutual co-operation, with an emphasis on the digital sphere.
The foundation for the operation of a digital economy is a universal and mandatory ID card with strong cryptography, said the Estonian Head of State.
According to the President, Estonia and Latvia could stand together in calling for the extensive implementation of the ID card as a secure digital means of identification.
As the technological environment around us changes rapidly, the development of infrastructure for the ID card could take place in the process of close co-operation between Estonia and Latvia instead of a situation where specialists, 300 km away from each other, are involved in solving exactly the same everyday problems; joining forces would enhance our co-operation capacities and set an example to the rest of Europe.
Estonia's experiences have shown that the smooth electronic data exchange between public and private sector and the citizens has allowed Estonia to climb to the top of the ranking for public e-services. Estonia is urging Latvia to consider a solution similar to X-road. Data exchange between various organisations via a secure platform will allow the state to face its citizens and entrepreneurs and avoid repetitive collection of the same data. The implementation of technology will help to reduce bureaucracy and enhance the transparency of the state apparatus. All of this would be a component of data movement as the fifth fundamental freedom of the EU, emphasised President Ilves.
Office of the President
Public Relations Department
