Transforming Europe into a truly digital continent within 2025 - this is one of the targets listed by the Estonian Prime Minister, Juri Ratas during the conclusion of the Tallin Digital Summit.
During the conference dedicated to the development of ICT solutions and technological advancement, which enable the European Institutions to place themselves at the forefront of the digital sector, it was undersigned at the e-Government Declaration.
The document was underwritten by the Member States of the EU and the EFTA (European Free Trade Area) within the context of the Estonian Presidency of the EU Council, in which the common objectives were decided upon for the following five years, further establishing the following principles and objectives.
- Digital by default. Using new media has to guarantee interaction transparently with the PA by:
- developing digital competences by citizens and undertakings
- rapid access to PA information through the use of digital tools such as for example via video streaming, web tv and mobile applications
- Once-only. According to this principle, an efficient management of public services is only possible by eliminating redundant information and costs, coordinating activities involving spreading and archiving data at a European level.
- Security and reliability of the services. The Member States should organise themselves and collaborate more to enhance their strategic capabilities in the sector of cyber security in implementing the directives involved
- Transparency and opening services, augmenting the availability and the quality of the Open Data and undertaking measures to ensure the ongoing preservation of public resources
- Interoperactivity by default making for example using ICT solutions again that had been developed for the PA in the private sector and in civil society, always observing precise terms and conditions
- Using a horizontal approach that enables extending the exchange and sharing of successful e-Government practices to speed up digital transformation at all levels of government, both local or central.
The development of e-government is therefore fundamental in implementing these targets and exploiting new digital opportunities.
Not only for digital advancement in Europe but to enhance the trust that citizens have in their governments, by incrementing transparency, reliability and integrity to be found in public governance.
Photo credit: Foter.com
