Tag: e-government

In an unusual move, EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes today (10 June) backed the use of open software for eGovernment and called on public authorities not to impose proprietary standards on citizens.

The US software giant has launched a new set of products aimed at standardising the provision of online services to citizens by public administrations. But while Microsoft says the move will help address the fragmentation of Internet services offered by local authorities, competitors argue it may pose a threat to the development of alternative software.

In order to perform, eGovernment services need to be strongly underpinned by citizen trust and government transparency, a study commissioned by DG Information Society has found.

Online government services such as registering a car, applying for a building permission or paying social contributions, has made big progress, a survey for the Commission finds. 

EU ministers have declared their wish to implement e-Government services while the Commisison is improving its online presence.

Biometrics are becoming more and more prominent in discussions about how society will look in the future. This dossier looks at their projected use in voting systems across Europe.

In this book, Antonio Alabau from the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Spain), tries to answer the following question in the context of the Lisbon strategic objectives: Can the EU, using instruments from its Industrial, Trans-European Networks, Research and Technological Development, Internal Market, Competition and Regional Development Policies, get public administrations to use ICT, carry out organisational changes, improve public services and democratic processes and develop their public policies?

eEurope was launched in December 1999 to ensure the EU fully benefits from the changes the Information Society is bringing. eEurope's key objectives are to bringing every citizen, home and school, every business and administration, into the digital age and online. It plans to create a digitally literate Europe, supported by an entrepreneurial culture ready to finance and develop new ideas. eEurope also wants to ensure the whole process is socially inclusive, builds consumer trust and contributes to social cohesion.

This article outlines the state of affairs in eGovernment in Europe in the light of a study conducted within the framework of the eEurope Awards Programme, which is managed by the author. It concludes by highlighting some of the major challenges ahead beyond the framework and actions planned within the eEurope Initiative.

The EU has ratified the international Convention on online services. The move comes only days after the Commission launched its e-TEN programme 2004 to bolster online services in the enlarged EU.

The European ICT industry is expected to grow by 3.1 per cent this year. The onus is now being put on the private sector to make online content available with digital rights management systems.

163 million euros are to be allocated to the new 'E-Content Plus' programme (2005-2008) to boost consumer demand for high-speed Internet and third generation mobile phones (3G).

A report by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young for the Commission shows declining growth rates for e-government services in Europe. Services to businesses are still way ahead of that for citizens.

The European Commission revealed on 1 December the results of a large-scale survey on the use and quality of public government online services.

The EU's e-government-related activities are "very fragmented", says a new analysis to be unveiled at the forthcoming e-Forum Summit in Valencia, Spain.

The Commission welcomed on 9 July the pledge by 30 European ministers to accelerate the rollout of eGovernment; proposed new programme on cross-border interoperability.

Italy wants eGovernment to be a "top priority" for its six-month EU Presidency.