1. EUROCITIES Economic Development Forum
Cities’ approaches to eInclusion
Tallinn, 8th October 2009

2. Strategic framework for action
European Union Riga Ministerial Declaration (adopted in June 2006);
The current financial crisis and globalization urge cities to stay vibrant, delivering services to citizens and driving economic development;
Social exclusion and digital exclusion overlap and must be considered jointly;
European Commission started discussions on Territorial Cohesion: There are factors specific to eInclusion, like access to services and telecom infrastructure.

3. Specific situation within cities
In EU member states citizens are receiving approx. 75% of overall public services from local municipalities;
Approximately 80 % of European citizens live in cities;
Cities are motors of economic, cultural and social development, but also experience condensed and intensive forms of exclusion and fragmentation and face extremely high demands of service delivery.
Cities are considered territories – But districts within cities are also territories

4. It is important…
that European Institutions and governments recognize the special role that cities play on the delivery of services - involvement of cities in the European e-Inclusion strategy is crucial;
that target groups to be addressed and supported are clearly identified;
that solutions are citizen-centred;
that the “social network” (e.g. neighbourhood organisations, NGO’s) is included when developing content and defining objectives;
to have an integrated understanding of social exclusion and digital exclusion.

5. Public services triangle Citizens – Municipality - State
State Offices
25%
Local Offices,
Municipalities
Population Register,
Land Cadastre,
State digital map,
etc.
75%
Examples – City Land Register
City Building Register, etc.

6. Social eInclusion projects in Estonia and in Tallinn City
2009, Wifi areas in Estonia:
1153 (488 in 2005) WiFi covered areas in Estonia;
359 in Tallinn, (213 in 2005),
incl 65 (7 in 2005) WiFi areas managed by Local Authority free of charge
Source:

7. Tallinn City Public Libraries in general
Tallinn City Central Library, incl.:
19 City district libraries;
100% connected to Internet;
15 of City district libraries are equipped with WiFi access free of charge.

8. Tallinn City Public Libraries fighting exclusion
Regular training courses “50+” for elderly people free of charge;
Activities for young and active people;
Chat-service (answering to information request, etc.);
Individual consulting on use of ICT;
Public opinion polling about new eServices request;
Library on Wheels – first bus-library started in spring 2008;

9. VIRTUAL ID ticket ID card Tallinn City ID-ticket in use Phone Mobile
POPULATION
REGISTRY
Phone
Mobile
Internet
Cash
ID card
ID CARD holder
can buy VIRTUAL
ID-ticket using:
e-TICKETS
INFORMATION
VIRTUAL
ID ticket
Checking
ID-tickets

10. Tallinn City ID-ticket – a success story
ID-ticket is granting everybody flexible access to public transportation;
Over active ID tickets vs registered citizens (September 2008);
Over 70% of passengers use an ID ticket;
Over 60% of public transport revenue comes from ID tickets.

11. Concluding remarks
Cities know the target groups, because they work locally!
Tallinn and other municipalities offer valuable experiences to share!
They are important partners when developing integrated approaches on national and European level!

12. Thank you for attention!
Think Globally, act Locally!
Thank you for attention!