The Greek Parliament has ratified the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Digital Governance of the Hellenic Republic and the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy of the Republic of Cyprus, focusing on digital transformation.

The Minister of Digital Governance, Dimitris Papastergiou, described the agreement as highly significant. He specifically noted, "We are now developing common processes, a shared vision for the digital era, and a unified approach to challenges, opportunities, and risks on a daily basis. This agreement serves as a pilot for how Europe can address similar issues, paving the way for further transnational European cooperation in the digital sector. Two states, one nation, a shared digital journey."

The MoU aims to achieve mutual recognition of digital documents from both countries' applications, facilitate identification processes for Greek and Cypriot citizens, and simplify citizens' interactions with their governments through the use of digital documents issued by the Gov.gr Wallet and the Gov.cy Digital Citizen apps.

Greece and Cyprus will exchange best practices and technical expertise to develop applications that benefit both citizens and businesses. The collaboration will begin with the development of the Gov.cy Digital Citizen app for Cypriot citizens, based on the Gov.gr Wallet, the digital wallet of the Greek Ministry of Digital Governance.

Meanwhile, Cyprus has already advanced in the process of developing an electronic identity. Cyprus' experience in developing the CY-eID, implemented in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2024/1183, will be particularly valuable for Greece.

Minister Papastergiou outlined the cooperation, which is based on four key pillars:

1. Digital Identification Services: Infrastructure to support scenarios for identification and authentication.

2. Digital Documents: Infrastructure for issuing and managing digital documents.

3. Digital Citizen App Interoperability Backend: Citizen services that enable data retrieval from public registries in each participating state.

4. Horizontal Support Services: Reusable horizontal infrastructures that enhance the overall user experience.

Greece and Cyprus plan to collaborate on the development of a series of applications and digital infrastructures, including:

1. Mechanisms for generating secure documents and implementing procedures for document marking using advanced electronic seals (eIDAS), Quick Response (QR) codes, and unique identifiers.

2. Document validity verification.

3. Document revocation.

4. Citizen communication registries.

5. API integrations.

6. Acceptance of incoming data or documents for signing in PDF format.

Minister Papastergiou emphasized that "we are essentially creating communication between applications and other registries of the Cypriot and Greek Republics, respectively, and implementing a document verification service for the mutual recognition of documents. Additionally, we will enable the automatic upload of signed and sealed documents to the citizen or entity's digital mailbox. The outcome of developing this digital infrastructure will be the production and management of secure documents in both the digital and physical worlds."

Furthermore, the MoU includes provisions for collaboration on the mechanisms for electronic signatures and electronic identities (eID), in compliance with Regulation (EU) 2024/1183. This mechanism will allow citizens to electronically sign documents, a process that can be integrated into any approval or signing procedure and is legally equivalent to the traditional handwritten signature.

Finally, the MoU also provides for the establishment of a support system for citizens using these applications.

The implementation of these projects will be carried out through joint collaboration and the exchange of specialized personnel to transfer knowledge between the two parties.