This was the government’s emblematic measure to bring about a more proactive and productive “data-driven” administration: bill 8395 on the use of data in an environment of trust and the implementation of the “once only” principle was tabled in the Chamber of Deputies on 11 June 2024 by digitalisation minister 
On the one hand, there is draft 8395A, now devoted to the Office of the Government Commissioner for State Data Protection, which is designated as the competent body for data management by public authorities--in other words, the body that will give permission for the use and re-use of data. And on the other side, we find project 8395B defining the procedures for implementing the “once only” principle made mandatory between public administrations.
The “once only” principle at a standstill
Why is the project not moving forward? Obertin’s answer to this question is that it is a complex text that touches on issues such as data protection. “This text needs to be carefully thought through. We must not make any mistakes.” This complexity also explains why the Council of State is taking its time to issue its opinion, which the minister hopes to have before the summer holidays. “This would allow a vote in the Chamber of Deputies around October-November.”
In the meantime, only Syvicol--the union of Luxembourg towns and municipalities--has issued its opinion. This is a mixed opinion, and it asks the government to clarify the provisions on the principle in order to specify the exact responsibilities and obligations of municipalities in implementing this principle. Syvicol is also unconvinced “that we can talk about simplifying administration and saving time as claimed by the authors of the text, especially in relation to the ‘once only’ principle and more specifically in the context of notifying a constituent of the right to receive a benefit or additional advantage. Unlike citizens, this provision will lead to an increase in the number of procedures to be carried out by local authorities and therefore an increase in their workload and related costs.”
Performance of administrative services by category of use. Sources: European Commission, DESI Study, Digital Economy and Society Index
Electronic signature of administrative documents validated
Bill 8089 on the electronic signature of administrative documents--also sponsored by the digitalisation ministry--was passed on 15 May, introducing a new legal framework enabling institutions, authorities and citizens to sign their documents digitally. “It’s a tool that simplifies the procedure and is part of the wider objective of modernising public services,” the ministry explained after the vote. According to the ministry, this text also paves the way for the launch of Eudi Wallet, the European digital identity wallet that Luxembourg is due to introduce by the end of 2026. This digital identity wallet will be based on the e-wallet currently being developed by the European Commission. In addition to identity cards and driving licences, the European e-wallet could integrate passports and visas, medical prescriptions, enable private official documents to be signed electronically and even contactless payment.
Level of digitalisation of public services. Sources: European Commission, DESI Study, Digital Economy and Society Index
MyGuichet.lu gets a facelift
The loss of the Luxembourg e-wallet project has enabled the Government IT Centre (Centre des technologies de l’information de l’État, CTIE) to allocate additional resources to the Luxembourg one-stop shop. The government has set itself the objectives of simplifying administrative procedures and speeding up the processing of applications, and this one-stop shop is the arm of the government’s policy of digitalising its administration. “The government intends to further promote the digitisation of services and the simplification of the state’s administrative procedures, whilst retaining the possibility of using more traditional, non-digital exchanges,” reads the coalition agreement.
The website’s interface was overhauled in January 2024. In October, the site underwent further development with the introduction of a new section in the portal’s main menu entitled “life events.” This new category presents fictional scenarios covering certain key moments in everyday life, such as getting married, having a baby, graduating, taking your driving test, looking for a job, buying your first home or retiring. It’s a list that will continue to evolve. Each of these events is associated with all the associated information and administrative procedures.
Videoconferencing possible for administrative procedures
In parallel, MyGuichet.lu offered the possibility of making appointments by videoconference. Until now, although appointments could be made digitally, it was still necessary to go to the appointment in person. The first administration to offer this alternative to a face-to-face appointment is the Guichet.lu helpdesk. The National Health Fund (Caisse nationale de santé, or CNS) followed suit at the end of 2024.
“The new developments on the Guichet.lu and MyGuichet.lu platforms once again reflect the efforts invested in modernising digital public services, but also in the inclusion of all our citizens,” explained Obertin when presenting this portal upgrade.
Luxembourg Inland Revenue modernises its procedures
Simplifying administrative procedures and speeding up the processing of files are two objectives that the government has set itself. And it is the Luxembourg Inland Revenue (Administration des contributions directes, ACD) that is serving as the rallying flag on this point. In January 2025, finance minister 
The flagship measure is the launch of the pre-filled tax return for individuals. This will affect 20,000 households with only salary or pension income and no special deductions. Pre-filled tax returns will gradually be extended to other households with other sources of income, with the aim of reaching 100,000 households by 2028. In the same spirit, the ACD will continue to improve its MyGuichet electronic assistant to encourage more taxpayers to file their tax returns online. The aim is to achieve 85% of returns filed electronically.
On 18 November 2024, the ACD launched its contact-centre, a service for rapid handling and optimised follow-up of taxpayers' requests, which will be fully rolled out before the summer. Taxpayers can also use the site www.manner-steieren.lu to access a tax calculator put online by the finance ministry. This calculator allows taxpayers to compare their tax situation in 2024 with that in 2025 in order to properly quantify the gains from the tax cuts preceded by the government.
A European e-wallet: what is it for?
The European digital wallet project aims to make life easier for European citizens. First, by simplifying the identification of individuals when they undertake administrative procedures--applying for identity papers, filing tax returns or accessing social security information--or private procedures, like opening bank accounts or telephone lines by registering Sim cards. Second, it aims to digitise everyday administrative documents such as driving licences, passports, social security cards and diplomas. The European e-wallet also aims to make it easier to sign contracts through the widespread use of electronic signatures, as well as to make online payments. Finally, medical prescriptions will be able to be included in the portfolio to facilitate the dispensing of medicines throughout the European Union.
E-government benchmark. Sources: European Commission, DESI Study, Digital Economy and Society Index
Digital strategies
Accelerating the 2023 digital strategy: digitalisation and administrative simplification. The government, which has chosen three priorities in this area in order to sustainably position Luxembourg at the forefront of new technologies: data, AI and quantum technologies.
National data strategy: the fundamental building block, according to digitalisation minister Stéphanie Obertin. In Bill 8395A, Luxembourg has opted for centralised governance to simplify coordination between entities for data access and re-use. “The national data strategy is a fundamental basis for accelerating digital sovereignty, which will enable Luxembourg to retain control of its data, manage it responsibly and optimise its use,” she says.
Artificial intelligence: when it comes to AI, 
Quantum technologies: economy minister 
The benchmark index for e-government. Sources: European Commission, DESI Study, Digital Economy and Society Index
The government’s roadmap
21 February 2024: the government endorses the bill on measures to ensure a high level of cyber security. The bill transposes Directive (EU) 2022/2555 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 December 2022, known as the Nis Directive. Bill 8364 was tabled on 13 March 2024 and is being examined in committee.
24 April 2024: the government adopts the national strategic roadmap for the digital decade up to 2030 for Luxembourg. The main objectives are to develop the digital skills of all citizens, strengthen secure and sustainable infrastructures, accelerate the digital transformation of businesses and digitise public services.
11 June 2024: the digitalisation minister tables bill 8395 on the valorisation of data in a trusted environment and the implementation of the “once only” principle in the Chamber of Deputies. This bill was split into two on 22 April 2025. Bill 8395A now deals with competent data governance authorities whilst bill 8395B focuses on data valorisation and “once only.”
11 October 2024: the government validates the project to integrate a quantum computer system as a new computing partition in the Meluxina HPC environment located in Luxconnect’s data centre in Bissen.
6 November 2024: the council approves bill 8318 approving the Protocol of Amendment to the Convention for the Protection of Individuals with regard to Automatic Processing of Personal Data, done at Strasbourg on 10 October 2018. The text is currently being examined in committee.
22 November 2024: the government adopts bill 8479, which opens up the possibility of applying online for full unemployment benefits. The bill is currently being examined by the Chamber of Deputies.
29 November 2024: the government adopts bill 8476 aimed at implementing the provisions of European regulation 2024/1689 on artificial intelligence, the AI Act. In particular, the draft designates the National Commission for Data Protection (CNPD) to coordinate the action of all the national sectoral competent authorities and to serve as the single point of contact and default market surveillance authority. The text is currently before MPs.
13 December 2024: Luxembourg’s application in the context of the EU’s European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking aimed at the construction of a European ecosystem to train advanced artificial intelligence models and the development of artificial intelligence solutions through European supercomputers having been selected, the government approves the acquisition of a supercomputer optimised for artificial intelligence and the establishment of an associated AI Factory. This agreement materialised on 7 March 2024 with bill 8518, a bill tabled in the Chamber of Deputies on 26 March 2025 and currently being examined by the economy committee.
15 May 2025: bill 8089 on the electronic signature of administrative acts is passed by MPs.
19 May 2025: ministers Elisabeth Margue, Stéphanie Obertin and Lex Delles present the strategic initiative “Accelerating Digital Sovereignty 2030” and the government’s objectives in the three strategic areas of data, artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum technologies.
This article was written in French for the July 2025 issue of Paperjam magazine, published on 12 June. The content is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the site to contribute to the full Paperjam archive. Click this link to subscribe to the magazine.
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