The Cyprus government is trying to make public services digital. However, this plan is now being carefully examined. This is because of new information about how a new app was bought. The government gave a contract to Greece without public bidding. Now, the Auditor-General's Office has many questions. They want to know if the process was open and fair.
The Digital Citizen app will help people. It stores official papers safely on their phones. People can use these digital documents in Cyprus. The app has digital versions of ID cards and driving licences. The government says this is a big step for a digital future. However, how they bought the app has caused criticism. Greece's Ministry of Digital Governance got the contract. Then, a private company in Greece did the technical work. This is allowed by EU rules for agreements between countries. Still, some people are worried.
The Auditor-General's report showed problems. Work on the project started before official papers were signed. This was in March 2024. The official agreement was signed much later. Also, there was no cost estimate before the project began. The Auditor-General is concerned. They worry that using "smart ways" to avoid open bidding is not good. This could set a bad example for future government deals. It might make it harder for fair competition.
The government has defended the contract. They said it was not wrong or unusual. They believe the agreement with Greece, costing €1.5 million, was faster. The Greek company that did the work has experience. They built a similar app for Greece before. However, this does not fully answer the worries. People are still concerned about how public digital services are bought. This situation affects the government's digital plans. It also raises questions about how the government checks itself.