Why is a new eGovernment Action Plan needed?
The current EU eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 is based on the Malmö Ministerial Declaration of 2009 which sets out the objectives for public administrations to invite third parties to collaborate on the development of eGovernment services, strengthen transparency of administrative processes and involve stakeholders in public policy processes. The EU eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 responded to these objectives with a range of actions.
A new eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020 is needed to complete the Digital Single Market (DSM) (see the Communication on a Digital Single Market Strategy for Europe). The Commission aims to identify further initiatives needed to modernise public administrations, achieve cross-border interoperability and facilitate easy interaction with citizens.
What makes the new eGovernment Action Plan different from the current eGovernment Action Plan (2010 – 2015)?
The mid-term review of the current eGovernment Action Plan recommended for the following eGovernment Action Plan to focus on a number of priority areas such as open data, collaborative services, interoperability and re-use of Public Sector Information and the once-only principle. It also recommended to move away from a five-year static approach to a more dynamic, flexible and iterative action plan. The new Action Plan will follow this approach, and will feature an online platform to allow citizens and businesses to contribute with ideas and suggest initiatives.
Why do we need online public services?
Citizen and businesses are interacting more and more via online services and expect to be able to interact similarly with their administration. Yet public administration must be delivered to all, so not exclusively via online public service.
Furthermore the online service delivery will also be used between administrations. Better and more online public services are crucial to increasing the cost-efficiency and quality of online public services provided to citizens and companies. For instance, only in 48% of cases do public administrations reuse information about the citizens or companies that is already in their possession without asking again. The extension of this “Once Only” principle would generate an annual net saving at the EU level of around 5 billion per year by 2017. It would also contribute to reducing the administrative burden for businesses and citizens.
Why a public consultation? Why now?
This survey, available in English, French and German, will gather information from citizens, business and civil servants. The Commission would like to receive from concerned three group of stakeholders their opinion on the priorities. The responses will help define the new eGovernment Action Plan in terms of:
• the new Action Plan’s scope & objectives
• its constituent measures
• user involvement over its period (2016-2020)
• interoperability of cross border government services between EU countries
• governance of the implementation and cooperation with stakeholders.
Who should answer to this consultation?
The Commission encourages replies from all stakeholders involved in e-government and digital public services such as individual citizens, business or private organisations, national, regional and local public administrations. Replies from the scientific and research organisations interested in the topic are also welcome.
What will the Commission do with the results of the consultation?
The Commission will consider the input provided to this public consultation, along with internal input and with input from Member States to identify the actions for the next e-Government Action Plan 2016 – 2020, which is expected to be approved in the first half of 2016.
When will the new eGovernment Action Plan be adopted?
The expectation is that the new eGovernment Action Plan will be adopted in the spring of 2016, as a Communication from the Commission.
What next, after the adoption of the new eGovernment Action Plan?
After the adoption of the new action plan, the Commission will ensure the implementation of the initiatives with the Member States within the expected timeframe. The Commission with the Member States will also throughout the 5 years ensure the emergence of new initiatives which will address the action plan priorities.
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Source: https://ec.europa.eu