The goal is to reduce the number and cost of documents being used, and to establish quality services through the integrated card – said Ministerial Commissioner Iván Vetési at a press conference presenting the concept behind the National Integrated Card System.

Iván Vetési, the ministerial commissioner responsible for setting up the National Integrated Card System, said that the Government’s decision to introduce the National Integrated Card (NIC) was based on a government resolution on 27 December 2010.

The aim of the Government is to reduce documents and cards issued by the State, and their unification, the ministerial commissioner pointed out. It is also important, he added, that we can cut costs to both citizens and the State.

Mr. Vetési pointed out that now an average citizen has too many cards, which is why we need a uniform set of rules and the establishment of an organisational framework. He added that the National Integrated Card System should provide free and unrestricted service satisfying all the needs of both the State and economic players. The ministerial commissioner said that one of the most important aims is that the NIC should not only allow personal identification, but should also be able to support e-landscape features and function as a tax card, among other things.

The concept is based on state control and supervision. He explained the importance of creating an open platform, establishing independent production and mutually compatible card technology. The introduction of the NIC will be in stages, with cards for government officials being introduced first, Mr. Vetési said. The structure of the NIC will be run by a card management centre where card issuing, registration and follow-up occur.

‘I think it is essential that this is not merely a card project – an initiative like this only makes sense when specific functions and applications are linked to it,’ said Mr. Vetési. He added that the use of cards issued by the State and public administration bodies will be compulsory, but in addition local governments and economic players can participate on a voluntary basis.

Vilmos Vályi-Nagy, Deputy Minister of State for Government IT and Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on the NIC System, underlined that realisation of the NIC represents significant progress on the objectives of the Digital Action Plan for Renewal, since the NIC will simplify the processes of public administration and reduce administration, thus providing less expensive administration overall. He added that it is important that real services are related to these cards, and that consequently the process of administration is simplified.

(kormany.hu)