1. European Commission, DG INFSO
eGovernment
A European priority
Frans de Bruïne
European Commission, DG INFSO
Presented in Hong Kong Feb 98. 1

2. Agenda Why eEurope? Where do we stand now?
eGovernment
Agenda
Why eEurope?
Where do we stand now?
Draft eGovernment Action Plan 3

3. Europe’s potential Why eEurope? Mobile telephony Digital Television
GSM, the leading world standard
Number of subscribers 50% higher than US
Digital Television
rapid expansion in several EU-countries
European standards prevail
Rich content base
Public sector information
Cultural heritage
Building on Europe’s strengths

4. Mobile phone penetration: The impact of liberalisation
Why eEurope?
Mobile phone penetration:
The impact of liberalisation
Million subscribers EU
EU mobile
liberalisation
USA
Source FT Mobile Communications
USA: Cellular Telecoms Industry Association

5. Internet penetration vs. Access Cost
Why eEurope?
Internet penetration vs. Access Cost
Source: Booz Allen & Hamilton

6. Europe lags in several areas
Why eEurope?
Europe lags in several areas
Internet penetration low
access costs remain high
American sites dominate the Web
94 of 100 most visited web sites in US
Few European start-ups
limited access to capital
eGovernment
access to information
Serious competitive disadvantage for European firms
electronic transactions
Action is needed NOW

7. The political initiatives
Where do we stand now?
The political initiatives
eEurope initiative (December ‘99)
Helsinki summit December
eEurope progress report
Lisbon special summit March
Ministerial Conference Lisbon April
eEurope action plan
Feira summit June
Setting ambitious targets

8. The eEurope initiative
Where do we stand now?
The eEurope initiative
Main message:
Europe must fully benefit from the Information Society
Main goals:
every citizen online
a digitally literate Europe
a socially inclusive process
10 priority areas

9. The eEurope initiative, 10 priority areas
Where do we stand now?
The eEurope initiative, 10 priority areas
European youth into the digital age
Cheaper Internet access
Accelerating e-commerce:
Fast Internet for researchers and students
Smart cards for electronic access
Risk capital for high-tech SMEs
"eParticipation" for the disabled
Healthcare online
Intelligent transport
Government online

10. Lisbon special summit 23-24 March 2000
Where do we stand now?
Lisbon special summit March 2000
New strategic goal:
To become the most competitive and dynamic economy in the world
Quickly exploit the opportunities of the new economy and in particular the Internet
A new and open method of co-ordination
The dot.com summit

11. Preparing the knowledge based economy
Where do we stand now?
Lisbon March 2000:
Preparing the knowledge based economy
Access for all in the e-economy
All schools connected
A clear framework for e-commerce
An innovative and entrepreneurial Europe
eGovernment: generalised electronic access to main basic public services
Landmark commitments

12. The draft eEurope action plan
Where do we stand now?
The draft eEurope action plan
A cheaper, faster and secure Internet
Investing in people and skills
Stimulate the use of the Internet
…….
Government online: electronic access to public services
Digital Content for Global Networks
A basis for discussion and action

13. A necessity, not a matter of choice !
eGovernment
A necessity, not a matter of choice !

14. eGovernment, what is at stake
We cannot afford not to act:
Democracy
Enhancing citizen’s participation
Bringing Governments closer to the citizen
Competitiveness
Creating room for entrepreneurship
Reducing the administrative burden
The US is moving ahead

15. E-Government: a key-issue for the US
What happens in the US?
E-Government: a key-issue for the US
December 1999: Electronic Government directive:
by December 2000, forms for top 500 Government services online
by October 2003, transactions with the Federal Government all available online for online processing
Electronic Freedom of Information Act (1996)
Grants access and enhances dissemination
Facilitates commercial exploitation
Are we ambitious enough?

16. What happens in the Member States?
Where do we stand?
Internet penetration varies largely within EU
Action on eGovernment in all Member States
Modernising Government (front office + back office)
Targets for electronic public services (improving access, portals, one stop shopping)
Rethinking rules for access and exploitation
… but progress is uneven
Turning ambitions into reality

17. Catalysing the potential
What is the EU doing?
Policy actions
Creating the framework conditions
Telecommunication costs: by 2001 review of telecoms regulatory framework adopted
Follow-up to Green Paper on Public Sector Information - Commission Communication (June 2000)
Reforming the Commission: eCommission
Catalysing developments
IST Programme, example: Eurovet (surveillance of livestock)
IDA, example: EURES (EU jobs database)
European content for global networks
Catalysing the potential

18. Towards an eCommission
What is the EU doing?
Towards an eCommission
Dialogue on Europe
Online register of President Prodi’s external mail
Unique portal to European Governments
Online transactions (subsidies, procurement etc.)
Increasing transparency of the Institutions

19. IST for administrations
What is the EU doing?
IST for administrations
On line support for the democratic process
Improved access to informations and services (one-stop service access and transactions handling)
Multilingual personalised services and intelligent multifunctional systems (interaction)
Statistical systems and tools
Support to effectiveness and internal efficiency
Programme Period No. EU funding
ENS
TAP-AD
IST KA1-AD

20. European content for global networks
What is the EU doing?
European content for global networks
Proposed budget 150 MEUR
Exploitation of public sector information (75 MEUR)
Linguistic and cultural customisation (60 MEUR)
Market enablers (10 MEUR)
Promote Internet start-ups
Multimedia rights trading
Support Actions (5 MEUR)
More European Content on the Net

21. Draft eGovernment Action Plan
Key characteristics
Inclusive
Making information easily accessible for all
Special attention for disabled people
Public access points
Interactive
Online interaction between citizens and Government
Multilingual
Cross-border use of the information
Entrepreneurial
Facilitating transactions for business
Electronic public procurement

22. Draft eGovernment Action Plan
Draft action plan, targets for eGovernment:
Essential public data online (2002)
Simplified online administrative procedures for business (2002)
Develop a co-ordinated approach for public sector information (2000)
Pan-European portals of interactive public services (mid 2001)
Promote use of open source software in public sector (2001)
All basic transactions with the European Commission online (2001)
Adopted by the Commission 24-5

23. Draft eGovernment Action Plan
How to move forward:
eGovernment Action Plan
Transparent co-ordination through benchmarking
Build on national initiatives and ideas
Best practices lead the way
To be adopted by the Feira Council