Croatia mandates qualified electronic signatures for public procurement

Starting September 1, 2026, all contracts, framework agreements, and annexes in public procurement procedures must be concluded electronically using a qualified electronic signature (QES). The Agency for Commercial Activities (AKD) has issued this notice to ensure both contracting authorities and bidders are prepared for the transition.

Authorized signatories must possess a valid QES to avoid potential monetary penalties for non-compliance. Solutions such as Certilia Doc have been identified as tools that allow users to sign documents via mobile phones without additional hardware, integrating with the Electronic Public Procurement Bulletin of the Republic of Croatia (EOJN RH).