ACTIVITIES :: eGovernment :: Implementation :: eTEN

eTEN: Trans-European e-Services

Since 2000, the EU’s eTEN programme has funded projects supporting the deployment of innovative, trans-European ICT services in the public interest. The programme aimed to accelerate the uptake of services to sustain the European social model of an inclusive, cohesive society. eGovernment is one of six themes covered by the eTEN programme, and over 60 projects have received financial support in this theme. The final eTEN call for proposals was published in 2006. Projects of this type, designed to support transnational public services built on ICTs in areas related to eGovernment, will in future be supported by the ICT PSP programme.

eTEN funding has mainly been used to support demonstration or pilot projects in their critical launch phase. In other words, at the point where the technology has proven itself in ‘laboratory conditions’ but needed to be shown to work in the real world before public authorities would invest in implementing it on a large scale. Such support helped to test assumptions about the operating costs and the potential revenues, savings and public benefits of a service before a decision was taken on proceeding with full deployment.

More than 20 eGovernment projects in the eTEN programme, from the total of more than 60, were still under way in November 2007. Further information on these and the completed projects can be found here.