|
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
|
| |
|
Commission sets ambitious eGovernment objectives for 2010
Hundreds of billions of euros could be saved for European taxpayers every year as a result of administrative modernisation in the 25 EU Member States according to the Commission’s eGovernment Action Plan which highlights the key priorities for action.
|
|
Information and communication technology is the key to modernising government services and making them more efficient and more responsive according to the Commission’s recently published eGovernment Action Plan. 100% take-up of electronic invoicing and electronic public procurement, it is predicted, could save 300 billion euros every year.
eGovernment initiatives in Europe have already resulted in significant saving of time and money in some Member States. Public service eProcurement in Italy has resulted in savings of €3.2 billion by 2003. Portugal has reported savings of 30% through electronic public procurement. Full deployment of eProcurement across the EU could reduce this bill by up to €80 billion a year.
eGovernment is the key to unlocking potential in the public sector. This Action Plan maps out the way ahead for eGovernment in Europe and provides the focal points for EC programmes, initiatives and policy-making from 2006 to 2010 and a practical way forward through roadmaps and strategic monitoring in priority areas. It addresses five priority areas:
Raising efficiency
Governments account for 45% of EU GDP, which has to be paid from taxes. Public services affect all 470 million citizens in the EU, as well as 20 million firms and tens of thousands of administrations.
Under the Action Plan, the Commission and the Member States will put in place a framework for benchmarking the impact of eGovernment in order get this process on track. All Member States have undertaken to use ICTs to achieve "considerable gains in efficiency" and "significant reductions in administrative burdens" by 2010.
Implementing eProcurement
Government procurement represents 15% of GDP or about €1,500 billion a year. The Member States have committed to achieving 100% availability and at least 50% take-up of procurement online by 2010, with an estimated annual saving of €40 billion. The action plan lays out a road map for achieving these goals as well as the practical steps required for such large-scale cross-border procurement pilots and full electronic handling of company documents.
Safe access to services EU wide
When citizens travel or when they move they want easy access to services. EU governments have agreed to facilitate this process by establishing secure systems for mutual recognition of national electronic identities for public administration web-sites and services. The Action Plan foresees a full implementation by 2010. The Commission will help make this happen by supporting wide-scale cross-border demonstrators, identifying common specifications for electronic ID management during 2007 and by reviewing the rules of electronic signatures in 2009.
Democratic decision-making and participation
The Action Plan proposes to support experiments in the use of ICT for more effective public participation in policy making. Effective and innovative public administrations are seen to be essential to a globally competitive Europe.
No citizen left behind
eGovernment will only really make a difference if everyone can use it and the Commission will work with Member States to make sure that by 2010 all citizens, regardless of gender, age, nationality, income, or disability will have access to a wide range of technologies such as Digital TV, PCs and mobile phones.
For more information on the eGovernment Action Plan see:
http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/egovernment_research/doc/highlights/egov_action_plan_en.pdf
Article published in Synergy 07 - September 2006
|
|
|
Print
