Towards the European Public Digital Infrastructure: the role of PagoPA in the digitalization process

Importance of public digital infrastructures and the fundamental role of PagoPA in driving the digitalization of public administration in Italy and Europe: these were the main topics addressed during the event entitled “Towards the European Public Digital Infrastructure: the experience of PagoPA between interoperability, digital identity and innovation” organized by I-Com – Institute for Competitiveness at the Representation of the Autonomous Province of Trento in Brussels, with the participation of the Vice President of the European Parliament Antonella Sberna, of the Telecommunications and Information Society, Digital, Postal Services Attaché at the Permanent Representation of Italy to the EU Stefano Nativi, and of Marco Giorello, Head of Unit for Technological and Economic Assessment, Platforms Policy and Enforcement, DG CNECT. For PagoPA, in addition to the Sole Administrator Alessandro Moricca, the General Director Maurizio Fatarella also took part. The debate, moderated by Silvia Compagnucci, Vice President of I-Com, explored the challenges and opportunities arising from the digital transformation of public institutions.

Among the noteworthy initiatives, the collaboration between Hub Innovazione Trentino and PagoPA in Italy has given rise to a series of joint projects, ranging from the organization of events on a national scale to specific operational programs that are strengthening the digitalization of public services, making them more accessible and efficient, and encouraging citizen participation in the public system in a simple and secure way.

In particular, PagoPA, a 100% publicly owned company overseen by the Prime Minister’s Office, has set itself the goal of designing and managing platforms to support and make public administration more digital. Since its founding, the company has launched a wide range of services, including payment tools that allow citizens to interact easily with the various entities.

“We represent a valuable app for the System – we adopt the market’s best practices and are ourselves a best practice,” emphasized Moricca. With a structure that has a strong STEM component, the company focuses on innovation, managing to position itself among the global best practices.

Security, Privacy and Digitalization: The European Vision

PagoPA’s activity fits into a particularly dynamic European framework on digital issues. The speeches by Nativi and Giorello highlighted the numerous priorities of this mandate for the sector: from cybersecurity to the protection of personal data, all the way to artificial intelligence, considered a real “second digital revolution.” The new European political mandate, which saw the assignment of responsibility over the digital sector to a new Executive Vice President, highlights the strategic importance of digitalization for the growth and competitiveness of the EU.

In this context, interconnected platforms play a fundamental role by promoting interoperability and the synergic evolution of digital infrastructures. On this point, not only will the upcoming Digital Network Act intervene, but also the various implementation processes of the regulations approved during the past mandate, always with the aim of promoting the growth of digital infrastructures, removing obstacles to innovation and keeping the EU competitive in the global context. All this without forgetting cybersecurity, Giorello recalled, which remains a priority for the European Commission, especially in light of new threats linked to hybrid attacks.

PagoPA: A Success Story for Italy and Europe

In his speech, Director Fatarella illustrated how PagoPA has already demonstrated its value in Italy, offering solutions that facilitate interaction between citizens and public administration. Among the most relevant examples are AppIO, which allows access to various public administration services via an app, and the legally valid notification platform SEND, which have greatly improved service efficiency.

One of the most significant developments at the European level is undoubtedly the digital wallet for identity, which will allow citizens to securely manage their own information and documents and access various services digitally. Thanks to PagoPA, Italy is among the most advanced Member States in Europe, taking a leading role in several pilot projects. Among these, the one that led to the development of a new verification app, which will soon allow law enforcement to check documents via QR code, without having to input the information: a concrete example of how digitalization is simplifying citizens’ daily lives and improving the services offered.

The event reaffirmed how crucial public digital infrastructures are for the future of Europe. With the support of initiatives like those of PagoPA, Europe is well on its way to becoming the leading continent in digitalization, placing the citizen and data security at the center. The challenge now is to accelerate the creation of an interconnected and interoperable digital infrastructure that can ensure an inclusive, secure and competitive digital transformation.