RATIONALISING eGOVERNMENT POLICIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION.

A REVIEW OF eGOVERNMENT WORKING GROUPS.

Report commissioned by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union

Report drawn up by :

Ministry of Public Administration (MAP): Gloria Nistal

Fundación RETEVISION : José Mª Castro

Madrid, April 25 and 26, 2002

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. eGOVERNMENT POLICIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. INTRODUCTION.

1.1INTRODUCTION

1.2eGOVERNMENT PROCESS FLOW CHART

2. eGOVERNMENT WORKING GROUPS AND PROGRAMMES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

2.1 eEUROPE PLAN

2.1.1.- eEUROPE INITIATIVE

2.1.2. eEUROPE 2002 ACTION PLAN

2.1.3.- eEUROPE 2002 update in the nice council

2.1.4.- ProgresS MADE IN eEUROPE actions

2.1.5.- LIST OF eEUROPE BENCHMARKING INDICATORS

2.1.6.- FRENCH PRESIDENCY REPORT ON eEUROPE ACTION PLAN

2.1.7.- Impact AND prioriTIES

2.1.8.- List OF eGOVERNMENT indicators

2.1.9.- AccesSIBILITY OF public WEBSITES and THEIR content

2.1.10.- CreatiNG a e.U. framework FOR THE EXPLOITATION OF public service INFORMATION

2.1.11.- WEB–BASED survey ON ELECTRONIC PUBLIC SERVICES

2.1.12.- ConferencE ON eGOVERNMENT hosted BY THE BELGIUM PresidencY IN BRUSSELS

2.1.13.- eEurope BENCHMARKING REPORT

2.1.14.- CONCLUSIONS OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL HELD IN BARCELONA REGARDING FUTURE eEUROPE 2005 ACTION PLAN

2.1.15.- Working paper for eEurope 2005. Palma de Mallorca Meeting, April 5 and 6, 2002

2.1.16.- SUMMARY OF eGOVERNMENT ACTIONS WITHin eEUROPE

2.1.17.- eGOVERNMENT working group

2.2 PROGRAMME FOR THE INTERCHANGE OF DATA BETWEEN ADMINISTRATIONS - IDA

2.2.1THE IDA PROGRAMME

2.2.2HORIZONTAL MEASURES AND ACTIONS INCLUDED IN THE 2001 WORK PROGRAMME. EUROPEAN MOBILITY WEBSITE

2.2.3COMMON INTEREST PROJECTS INCLUDED IN 2001 WORK PROGRAMME

2.2.4IDA RELATIONSHIP WITH eEUROPE and eGOVERNMENT

2.2.4.1. Priorities of IDA 2001 Work Programme

2.2.4.2. eEurope Supporting Actions: The Administrative Environment

2.2.4.3. Role of IDA in eEurope and eGovernment. IDA Programme Goals

3. WORKING GROUPS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION’S MINISTRY COUNCIL RELATED TO eGOVERNMENT

3.1. eGOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP

3.1.1. Creation of the Working Group

3.1.2. Mandate

3.1.3. Studies

3.1.4. Goals

3.2 FORUM FOR EUROPEAN ONLINE PUBLIC SERVICES - e-FORUM

3.2.1. Inception

3.2.2. Founding Members

3.2.3. Activities

3.2.4. Initial Goals

3.2.5. Benefits for e-Forum Members

3.2.6. Goals

3.3. TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION SOCIETY WORKING GROUP

4. OTHER EUROPEAN UNION PROGRAMMES AND INITIATIVES IN THE AREA OF eGOVERNMENT

4.1 TEN-Telecom

4.1.1. The Programme

4.1.2. Goal

4.2 PROGRAMME FOR INFORMATION SOCIETY TECHNOLOGIES – IST

4.2.1. The IST Programme

4.2.2. Action Lines

4.2.3. Goals

4.3 eCONTENT PROGRAMME

4.3.1. The Programme

4.3.2. Public Sector Information

4.3.3. Other Actions

4.3.4. Goals

5. OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS WITH eGOVERNMENT WORKING GROUPS

5.1 THE OECD

5.1.1. OECD’S Public Management Service (PUMA)

5.1.2. eGoverment Working Group

5.1.3. OECD’s Member Nations

5.1.4. Goals

5.2 UNITED NATIONS

6. JOINT ANALYSIS OF eGOVERNMENT WORKING GROUPS

6.1. Goals of the eEurope Action Plan Related to eGovernment

6.2. Goals of the IDA Programme and Fit with eGovernment

6.3. Goals of the eGovernment Working Group Created in the 35th Informal Meeting of Director Generals of the Public Service Held in Strasbourg

6.4. Goals of e-Forum

6.5. Goal of the TEN-Telecom Programme

6.6. Goal of the IST Programme

6.7. Goal of the e-Content Programme

6.8. Goal of the eGovernment Group of OECD’s Public Management Service

6.9. Chart of the European Union eGovernment Initiatives

  1. CONCLUSIONS
  1. RECOMMENDATIONS
  1. eGOVERNMENT POLICIES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION. INTRODUCTION.

1.1. INTRODUCTION

The goal of the European Union in today’s Information Society is to consistently implement the new information and communication technologies (ICT).

To that effect, the European Union has undertaken a number of initiatives and plans to provide the means that will ensure maximum use of the new technologies and services.

The European Union’s ultimate goal is to be at the world’s forefront in the new technologies by the year 2010.

To achieve this goal, it is necessary to:

  • Bridge the gap between Europe and other world regions, especially USA
  • Bridge the gap between the different EU member States
  • Ensure that EU expansion successfully achieves the goals of harmonising the candidates in terms of the information society.

The European Union’s initiatives can be sorted out into the following sections (The initiatives most closely associated to eGovernment are highlighted in bold):

1º INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENT: More pervasive, faster, cheaper and secure infrastructure

a)Stimulate competition, reduce prices in communications and improve internet access, etc.

b)Create a high-performance network for research and academia

c)Improve security: smart cards, electronic signature, public key infrastructures (PKI), CERT, combat cybercrime

2º EUROPEAN R&D PROMOTION: Venture capital

Foster European R&D by funding projects in small and medium sized companies (SMEs) in these areas.

In addition to fostering technological capital, the EU also seeks to enhance human capital.

3º TRAINING AND ACCESS

a)youth access to the internet and other technologies

b)investment in people and training: teaching staff, new technology professionals, training

c)struggle against the digital gap

d)reorganisation of public services via new technologies

And, finally, a focus on services and content will progressively feedback to network use, thereby intensifying use and enhancing the appeal of the offering.

4º FOSTERING OF SERVICES AND CONTENTS

a)eGovernment

b)e-commerce, including e-procurement

c)e-democracy

d)intelligent transport

e)online health

f)European digital contents, including access to European public sector information (PSI)

eGovernment is closely focused on the European market, and will mainly seek to meet the needs of European Union citizens. However, there is a clear intent to compete worldwide with European digital content.

1.2eGOVERNMENT PROCESS FLOW CHART

The eGovernment process flow chart depicts all eGovernment activities.

The flow represents the underlying infrastructure supporting eGovernment, as well as the different factors driving its development, e.g.,: competition stimulation, price reductions, network security improvement, legislative changes and internal adjustment of European legislation, funding, promotion of European R&D, European Union programs to foster infrastructure, etc.

Training is the key factor to optimal and widespread use of this infrastructure and of new technologies in general. Training includes University and mid-level professionals, as well as extension to the different educational, labour, social environments, etc.

Attention will also be devoted to bridging the digital divide in order to ensure maximum use amongst all citizens.

Additionally, reorganising and simplifying public services through eGovernment will also enhance their performance.

This initiative will facilitate and develop eGovernment, which includes:

  • Online public services: tax collection, registration, permits and licenses, etc.
  • e-democracy, to boost citizen’s participation through technology
  • Content: public sector information, legislation, intelligent transport, tourism, etc.

Best practices will also be disseminated horizontally.

Finally, for eGovernment to reach a truly pan-European dimension, two main factors closely related to infrastructure are required: network interoperability and security. The successful implementation of these two factors will spur the diffusion of eGovernment beyond national borders, giving it a global scope both inside and outside the European Union.

  1. eGOVERNMENT WORKING GROUPS AND PROGRAMMES IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

2.1 eEUROPE PLAN

Next we will review the development and progress made in the eEurope Plan.

Programs not directly related to eGovernment are not described.

Programs most clearly identified with eGovernment are highlighted in bold.

2.1.1.- eEUROPE INITIATIVE December 1999

The eEurope Initiative was undertaken by the European Commission for the Lisbon European Council on March 23 and 24, 2000.

The goals of this initiative are:

  1. Ensure access to the digital age among youth
  2. Reduce the cost of internet access
  3. Speed implementation of e-commerce (including e-procurement)
  4. Provide fast internet for researchers and students
  5. Provide smart cards ensuring secure access to applications
  6. Provide venture capital for high-technology SMEs
  7. Enhance participation of the handicapped in the online culture
  8. Provide online health care
  9. Provide intelligent transport
  10. Support eGovernment

-provide easy access to information such as: legal, administrative, cultural, environmental, traffic, etc.

-offer internet use for citizens’ queries

-facilitate online access and basic interaction for tax forms, subsidies, etc.

2.1.2. eEUROPE 2002 ACTION PLANJune 2000

The eEurope 2002 Action Plan was approved by the European Union’s Minister Council held in Feira, June 19 and 20, 2000, at the proposal of the European Commission.

The eEurope 2002 Action Plan sets the following goals:

Goal 1: Provide a faster, cheaper, safer internet

1. Provide faster, cheaper internet access

  1. Provide faster internet for researchers and students
  2. Provide secure networks and smart cards

Goal 2 : Invest in individuals and training

  1. Increase access to the digital age among European youth
  2. Develop a knowledge-based economy
  3. Ensure widespread participation in the knowledge-based economy

Goal3: Stimulate Internet use

  1. Speed e-commerce
  2. Boost eGovernment: on-line public services, open source software, electronic signature
  3. Enable online health care
  4. Increase European digital contents on the world wide web
  5. Provide intelligent transport systems

The action plan provides a detailed description of actions to be undertaken, main players involved, and timing.

The proposals focus on 11 lines of action broken down into specific objectives and timing and requiring action in several fields: infrastructure, competition, legislation, finance, normalisation, etc.

The 11 lines of action:

  1. Provide faster, cheaper internet access

Promote competition, new legislation, co-ordination, infrastructures, financing and normalisation.

  1. Provide faster internet for researchers and students

Improve infrastructures, financing, technology normalisation.

  1. Provide safe networks and smart cards

Security, interoperability, co-operation, combat cybercrime.

  1. Increase access to the digital age among European youth

Support infrastructures, training, best practice dissemination, financing.

  1. Develop a knowledge-based economy

Training, equal opportunities, labour flexibility, access.

  1. Ensure widespread participation in the knowledge-based economy

Fight against the digital divide, access, normalisation.

  1. Speed e-commerce

Legislation, trust, legal security, flexibility, European domain, online European markets, specific Directive on VAT.

  1. Increase eGovernment

Online access to public services

  • Provide basic public information online
  • Ensure online access to the main public services
  • Simplify online administrative procedures
  • Co-ordinate approach to information on public services across Europe
  • Use open source software in public services
  • Foster best practices in eGovernment, by increasing the interchange of experiences across the European Unions (through the IST and IDA programmes)
  • Foster use of electronic signature in the public services
  • Provide means to conduct online main dealings with the European Commission
  1. Enable online health care

Develop infrastructure, best practices, quality criteria, networks for data assessment.

  1. Increase European digital contents on the world wide web

Launch a program to that effect, co-ordination, interoperability.

  1. Provide intelligent transport systems

Universal emergency service, smart road transport systems, wireless communication in high-speed trains, European navigational system, Galileo infrastructure.

2.1.3.- eEurope 2002 update in the nice councilNovember 2000

The European Commission updated eEurope 2002 for the European Union’s Minister Council held in Nice, December 7 and 8, 2000.

The plan was reviewed, and the main issues to be tackled as well as the next steps to be undertaken were analysed.

2.1.4.- ProgresS MADE IN eEUROPE actions November 2000

Commission Report on progress made in eEurope actions, and on progress made towards 2000 goals. The report sets new eEurope goals for 2001 and 2002

2.1.5.-List of eEuropeBENCHMARKing indicatorsNovember 2000

The EU Council approved a list of 23 indicators to provide a comparative assessment of eEurope 2000 Action Plan.

Approved indicators include:

A)Cheaper, faster internet

  1. Percentage of population who regularly use the internet
  2. Percentage of households with internet access at home
  3. Internet access costs
  4. Speed of interconnections and services available in research and education networks

B) Secure networks

  1. Number of secure servers per million inhabitants
  2. Percentage of internet-using public who have experienced security problems
  3. Number of computers per 100 pupils by educational level
  4. Number of computers connected to the internet per 100 pupils by educational level
  5. Number of computers with high speed connection per 100 pupils by educational level
  6. Percentage of teachers using the internet on a regular basis for non-computing teaching
  7. Percentage of workforce with basic IT training
  8. Number of places and graduates in ICT related third level education
  9. Percentage of workforce using telework

C) Participation for all in the knowledge-based economy

  1. Number of Public Internet Points (PIAP) per 1000 inhabitants
  2. Percentage of central government websites that conform to the WAI accessibility guidelines at level A

D) Accelerating e-commerce

  1. Percentage of companies that buy and sell over the internet

F) Government online

  1. Percentage of basic public services available online
  2. Public use of government online services for information/to submit forms
  3. Percentage of public procurement that can be carried out online

G) Health online

  1. Percentage of health professionals with internet access
  2. Use of different categories of web contents by health professionals

H) European digital content for global networks

  1. Percentage of EU websites in the national top 50 visited

I) Intelligent transport systems

23. Percentage of the motorway network (vs. total length of network) equipped with congestion information and management systems.

2.1.6.- french presidency REPORT on eEurope action plan December 2000

In December 2000, the French Presidency of the European Council issued a report outlining progress made towards implementing the eEurope Action Plan across the different actions proposed.

The document includes the list of the 23 benchmarking indicators listed above in an Annex.

2.1.7.- Impact AND prioriTIES March 2001

Commission Report to the European Council in Stockholm, March 23 and 24, 2001

This report analyses the impact of the eEurope Plan on society, and reviews the situation of eEurope indicators. The report then sets the priorities, among them:

a)new framework for online communication services

b)high-speed infrastructure

c)online learning and training for telework

d)e-commerce

e)eInclusion – social integration through the use of IT

f)eGovernment

The report states that the Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDA) is a valuable tool to support the development of pan-European interactive public services, as well as to exchange best practices across member States

g)network security

h)wireless communications

The report promotes the eEurope+ Plan, devised as an initiative to be developed for and by the candidate countries.

The communication includes an Annex with the list of the 20 benchmarking eGovernment indicator

2.1.8.- List OF eGOVERNMENT indicaTORS March 2001

The list of benchmarking indicators was approved by the European Council. The list was presented in its February 12, 2001 meeting by the eGovernment Working Group.

In March 2001 a list with 20 basic public services (12 for citizens and 8 for business) was approved, with 4 stages leading to eGovernment implementation.

The list of the 20 basic public services approved includes:

Public Services for Citizens

  1. Income taxes : notification of assessment
  2. Job search services by labour offices
  3. Social security contributions (3 out of the following 4)
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Family allowances
  • Medical costs (reimbursement or direct settlement)
  • Student grants
  1. Personal documents (passport and driver’s licence)
  2. Car registration (new, used and imported cars)
  3. Application for building permission
  4. Declaration to the police
  5. Public libraries (availability of catalogues, search tools)
  6. Certificates (birth, marriage): request and delivery
  7. Enrolment in higher education / university
  8. Announcement of moving (change of address)
  9. Health related services (e.g., interactive advice on availability of services in different hospitals; appointments for hospitals)

Public Services for Business

  1. Social contribution for employees
  2. Corporation tax: declaration, notification
  3. VAT: declaration, notification
  4. Registration of a new company
  5. Submission of data to statistical offices
  6. Customs declaration
  7. Environment-related permits (including reporting)
  8. Public procurement

Basic public services can be grouped as follows:

  1. Tax collection
  2. Tax declaration, notification of assessment
  3. Corporation tax: declaration, notification
  4. VAT: declaration, notification
  5. Customs declaration
  6. Social contribution for employees
  7. Registration
  • Car registration (new, used and imported cars)
  • Certificates (birth, marriage): request and delivery
  • Announcement of moving (change of address)
  • Registration of a new company
  • Submission of data to statistical offices
  • Citizen services
  • Job search services by labour offices
  • Public libraries (availability of catalogues, search tools)
  • Declaration to the police
  • Health related services (e.g., interactive advice on availability of services in different hospitals; appointments for hospitals)
  • Financial content
  • Social security contributions: unemployment benefits, family allowances, medical costs (reimbursement or direct settlement), student grants
  • Public procurement
  • Permit and licence request
  • Personal documents (passport and driver’s licence)
  • Enrolment in higher education / university
  • Application for building permission
  • Environment-related permits (including reporting)

Four stages have been marked to measure the progress of the above indicators in terms of online development .

The 4 stages are:

  • Stage 1 Information: posting of online information about the public service
  • Stage 2 Interaction: downloading of forms
  • Stage 3 Two-way interaction: filling and submission of forms, access to databases, etc.
  • Stage 4 Transaction: case handling and delivery with acknowledgement of receipt of the form, including payment whenever appropriate

The nature of some of the services prevents them from evolving through all 4 stages. For the following services, stage 3 is the most advanced level of development:

  • Job search services by labour offices
  • Personal documents (passport and driver’s licence)
  • Declaration to the police
  • Public libraries (availability of catalogues, search tools)
  • Certificates (birth, marriage): request and delivery
  • Change of address announcement
  • Submission of data for official statistics

These indicators will be monitored twice a year, by means of a survey to be supervised by the Commission.