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Audit Report on “Digital Citizen” – Shadows over Award Procedure and Cost

Published February 24, 2026, 09:11
Audit Report on “Digital Citizen” – Shadows over Award Procedure and Cost

The Audit Office expresses significant reservations regarding the “Digital Citizen” project, implemented by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy. The report highlights that the application was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Governance of Greece and was directly awarded to the same private contractor who developed the Greek “gov.gr wallet”, without an open competition. The Audit Office questions the transparency and equal treatment of economic operators in the award process, pointing out the risk of creating a preferential position for the contractor. Furthermore, it notes that technical work began before the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Contract, and that the initial schedule was significantly shorter than the actual implementation time. It is pointed out that the legal basis for the award was amended shortly before the signing of the Contract, without changing the outcome, namely the award to the same contractor. The total cost of the Contract amounts to €1.7 million, but there was no preliminary cost estimate or comparative assessment of costs, making it difficult to evaluate the economic efficiency. Finally, the report mentions issues related to the hosting of the application and technical supervision, as well as the fact that the final cost exceeds the contractual amount. The Audit Office calls for improvements in project award procedures and the management of public funds.