Public Administration Updates: Appointments, AI, and a Modern Website

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about many changes to ensure citizens stayed safe while respecting social distancing. Some of these measures are still in place, even though they may seem unnecessary now. Social distancing, mandatory masks, and hand sanitizer dispensers have faded into history, and soon a particularly controversial issue will follow in 2024. The Minister of Digital Transformation and Public Function, Jose Luis Escrivá, has delivered welcome news for people who must deal with public bodies. Citizens who previously had to carry papers to the town hall, tax offices, the social security system, or any public administration often found the process slow and confusing. Fortunately, this practice will no longer be mandatory in the near future, as many complained about the difficulty and delays involved in requesting it. Fin a la cita previa obligatoria Jose Luis Escrivá intends to bring before parliament the removal of the obligation to make an appointment with the Administration to carry out bureaucratic procedures as quickly as possible. The minister stressed that this is a top priority to strengthen citizens confidence in public administration and it will be approved when Parliament deems it appropriate. To make this effective, Article 14 of the General Administrative Procedures Law will have to be amended. The aim is to speed up and broaden access to public services, improving relations between citizens and government. Escrivá also announced more developments during his appearance before the Finance and Public Function Committee of the Congress. A new web and Artificial Intelligence for the Administration Minister Escrivá will launch several transformative measures for the public sector which had become outdated. The first step is to modernize the official website which is currently under construction, equipping it with more features, universal accessibility, and easier navigation for all users. This upgrade will be coordinated across all public administrations to achieve a unified, cohesive presence. Another major change involves the deployment of self service stations that will utilize artificial intelligence. These hubs will be placed in offices to handle straightforward tasks that still require a human touch. The goal is to address demographic challenges and the needs of people with special requirements. Additionally, a cross regional network will be created to connect all autonomous communities, making border-crossing procedures simpler and more accessible. Finally, work is underway on a style guide for the State Administration that uses plain language and is optimized for AI usage. In practical terms, these measures aim to cut red tape and bring services closer to citizens. A more responsive digital framework will reduce bureaucratic friction, speeding up transactions and improving the overall experience of dealing with public offices. The initiatives reflect a broader push toward a modern, AI-assisted public sector that keeps pace with technological change and evolving public expectations. In summary, the road ahead includes removing the mandatory appointment for many procedures, updating the public website, deploying AI enabled self service stations, building a unified administrative network, and adopting a clear, accessible style across government communications. These steps are designed to create quicker, more reliable, and more user friendly services that work for everyone, including those with special needs, across all regions. The reforms signal a push toward greater transparency and trust in public institutions, backed by practical technology driven improvements that citizens can feel in their day to day interactions with the administration.