Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner, talks about putting citizens first in developing eGovernment in Europe, at the Transforming Public Services Conference in Manchester.
Let me start by congratulating the UK Presidency on today’s achievements. Firstly, for the Presidency’s leadership in agreeing with nearly 30 countries a strong Ministerial Declaration. Secondly, for co-organising with us this rich conference with excellent speakers and where over 50 Award Finalists are showing the best of eGovernment in Europe.
The Declaration and the Award Finalists make very clear that citizens and businesses must be at the heart of eGovernment. And that public administrations can and should play a key role in creating more jobs and sustainable growth in Europe.
I fully subscribe to this. I have three messages for you today:
First, we have made significant progress in recent years but we cannot afford to be complacent. Europe’s citizens demand better services, better democracy. Europe’s businesses demand less bureaucracy, more efficiency. We should listen to them.
...Europe’s citizens demand better services, better democracy. Europe’s businesses demand less bureaucracy, more efficiency.
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Second, we now need to focus even more on responding to their needs by delivering tangible benefits for all citizens and business, leaving no one behind.
Third, for the good of Europe we should aim to become leaders in transforming public services through eGovernment, in partnership with all stakeholders.
Listening to the citizens, delivering real benefits for all, working in partnership in Europe: this is my agenda for eGovernment.
Why so much emphasis on eGovernment?
Why do I place so much emphasis on eGovernment? Let me recall some of Europe’s challenges.
Citizens are concerned about jobs in the face of global competition. As they get older and live longer, they worry their pensions will not support the comfortable retirements they have worked for all their lives.
Companies strive for growth against global competition, but we are worried that in many parts of Europe, economic growth continues to be sluggish.
Security concerns, especially with the threat of international terrorism that plays on the gaps between national security systems in a global community.
The need for common cause on shared threats, such as the bird flu pandemic or global climate change.
Internationalisation driving us to work together to create a truly multi-lingual and multi-cultural Europe: a Europe connected to citizens.
These are big challenges, but we have resources to meet them. Let me also recall some of Europe’s strengths. We are a rich Union. Our many and diverse cultures are a source of creativity. We have a strong business sector, both global leaders and innovative SMEs. We have achieved a valuable and respected balance of the economic and the social model. We have some of the best‑run economies and administrations in the world.
...More efficient public services, means time and money saved – a direct boost to economic growth.
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This is where eGovernment comes in. Used wisely, it can help sustain our social model by making government more efficient. It can help promote growth by cutting red-tape. It can help meet security threats and emerging global threats by making administrative coordination more effective. It can support inclusion, integration. It can also help to reconnect people to politics and policy.
We can see the potential here at this Conference. It is like looking through a keyhole towards the future and eGovernment is the key.
Let me give you some examples. More efficient public services, means time and money saved – a direct boost to economic growth.
Some Member States are now setting targets to achieve a cut in red tape of 25%. The targets are short waiting times – even zero waiting time - and offering “once-only” information provision.
It is no surprise to me that there is a strong link between national competitiveness and the quality of public administrations. The countries that score high in openness and efficiency of their public sector are also those that top economic performance and competitiveness scoreboards. Good government is no longer an option, it is a competitive must.
...Good government is no longer an option, it is a competitive must.
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There are also social benefits promised by transformed public services. With inclusive services, disadvantaged people confront fewer barriers to opportunities for study or work.
eGovernment is taking off
I am convinced that many administrations all over Europe are ready and eager to respond to the appeal for better government, making eGovernment their tool of choice.
Why do I say so, when the general impression is that public administrations are followers rather leaders of innovation. Because eGovernment contradicts this perception. Developments are rapid and progress is substantial.
In recent years hundreds of public services have been made accessible over the Internet all over Europe. Online availability of the 20 basic public services that we regularly benchmark is already above 90%.
A recent Eurostat survey found that some 50% of all businesses and citizens with Internet access visited a website of a public authority in 2004. This is quite encouraging.
Many citizens have submitted their tax declaration electronically this year – and jointly saved millions of hours. In several countries electronic public service cards are starting to appear in citizens’ wallets, helping them to obtain official documents such as proof of residence or birth certificate at the touch of a button.
It is not very visible for citizens, but much more so for companies is electronic reporting for social security or VAT. Hours saved by businesses means real money saved.
...Today’s online availability is just the first step.
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A new focus for eGovernment
But, these are the quick wins, the low-hanging fruit.
Full eGovernment means measurably more efficient, effective, inclusive and open government for all citizens and in all areas of administration and democracy. Today’s online availability is just the first step.
The Eurostat survey also shows that most users are the highly-educated and relatively young. Another of our surveys found that eGovernment websites are often not easy to use. Today’s eAccessibility survey of the Presidency confirms that many are not even compliant with basic Web accessibility.
...Today’s eAccessibility survey of the Presidency confirms that many are not even compliant with basic Web accessibility.
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So we have to work further. Government services should exclude no-one, using all means and technologies available, the PC, the TV & the phone. EasyConnects, an Award Finalist from South Yorkshire, is now using interactive TV to reach poorer people. Another Award finalist, “Communit-e” from Belgium shows how benefit claims for disabled people can go down from 3-4 weeks to seconds. That is what I call “design for inclusion”!
eGovernment will only come to full fruition through major organisational change in administrations and by equipping civil servants with the right skills. This is a long road, and will take time and persistence.
On this road, there is a very important signpost. As it has already been said: eGovernment is not about technology, it is about putting citizens at the centre.
We are all concerned about the low interest of young people in the democratic process. We need to recognise that the media and the use of the media have changed, even if we politicians have stayed the same. Look at the rejection of the proposed European constitution in France in May 2005. Amongst young people the “non” vote was even higher than the 55% national average. This is partially because young people get their ideas and information on-line; they see the Internet as the “voice of the people,” whereas television is for them a biased medium. Investigations indicate that 83 percent of the on-line sources leaned towards “no.” and heavily implemented the vote of the young people. This is a good lesson for us politicians. In order to reach the younger generation, we have to use modern technology.
Earlier today we heard Michaela and Andrew express their views on technology and democracy and I have just met their fellow students in a refreshing exchange of views. I am convinced that, with them, this is a new world we are entering, with new possibilities for democratic action.
We see at this conference fine examples of this new e‑democracy: e‑voting from the Netherlands; and e-petitioning in the Scottish Parliament. EU pilot projects are carrying out secure e-polling and e-voting tests, in one case engaging 10 million voters in France and Italy. The EU Intelcities project that we heard about this morning shows the way towards citizen participation in city planning in this, our host city, of Manchester.
I am for openness and involvement. This will bring us closer together rather than drive us apart. I am convinced that innovative use of the Internet, mobile phones, digital television and the other modern media for democracy is essential to bring Europe and citizens closer together.
A shared European eGovernment agenda
...Ministers have today taken an important step towards a new agenda for eGovernment in Europe.
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Ministers have today taken an important step towards a new agenda for eGovernment in Europe. I welcome their vision and their determination to define clear objectives towards 2010 and to commit to delivery.
Both the Ministerial Declaration and the “best of eGovernment” seen here as Award Finalists are inspirations for the new eGovernment Action Plan that I will bring forward next year as part of my i2010 information society initiative for growth and employment.
We have already held consultations with many stakeholders and our online consultation is still open. If you haven’t done so already, I urge you to contribute.
There are many advantages to working together on a shared European eGovernment agenda.
With a common agenda for eGovernment we can deal with the challenges of making public services available to EU citizens in a seamless way wherever they visit, work, study and live in our single market. A shared agenda will bring synergies, help us to learn from each other and encourage a faster more effective roll out of eGovernment across Europe.
I will announce the details of the eGovernment Action Plan next year. But my overall aim is clear - eGovernment that delivers tangible benefits for citizens and businesses, everywhere in the EU, leaving no one behind.
I want to put public administrations at the heart of economic growth. I intend to focus on areas where there is European value added.
I also intend to take pragmatic approaches to overcoming some of the key challenges such as interoperability and electronic identification.
Engagement of all stakeholders
Our action plan will need the involvement and support of all. I am impressed by the willingness of Member States to cooperate at European level. In recent years we have done very productive work with the leaders of the national eGovernment initiatives.
I also have high expectations of the local and regional level. After all, they are often closest to the citizens.
We need partnerships of the private and public sector, involving trade unions and civil society as well. In that respect I look forward to tomorrow’s Industry Declaration.
I will actively encourage and support cooperation of stakeholders where possible and appropriate.
My advice also is to take a very practical, delivery-oriented approach. I wish to develop with you results-oriented roadmaps for electronic identification and for high impact services such as citizen mobility and electronic public procurement. This will provide the convincing evidence that eGovernment of the future is fully focused on delivering policy goals.
Conclusion
In conclusion: let’s get citizens re-connected to Europe. Let’s make Europe the place of choice for business to invest and grow. Let’s make our administrations world-class innovators in government.
The Award Finalists and the Ministerial Declaration provide the clear signposts. My action plan will extend these and rally European resources.
Let me finish by repeating what I believe to be the key mission for eGovernment and what is also my personal agenda.
Listening to the citizens, delivering real benefits for all, working in partnership for Europe: this is my agenda for eGovernment.
