Europe's public sector is in trouble as a result of the crisis and the need for austerity. But it will be in even more trouble in the coming years, when the baby boomers start to receive their pensions, because the next generation of taxpayers is relatively small. Public sector reform is badly needed, be it at European, national or regional level.
One way to increase productivity – and deliver more for less – is to go digital. E-government has been a buzz word for several years, and although it has been implemented well in some European countries, there is a long way to go to fully exploit its potential. A recent study from the European Policy Centre shows the enormous benefits of rapidly creating a digital single market in Europe. The public sector has a major role to play, not only by ensuring that this can happen by reducing barriers and introducing benefits, but also by acting as a driver of digitisation in Europe by embracing e-government.
The success of e-government is closely related to connectivity and the existence of a digital mindset. First of all, high-quality affordable broadband is required. Then, people must trust the internet in dealing with their governments, and at the same time have the motivation to do so. This is all part of the digital mindset. But there are further conditions which point to the public sector itself. There must be a readiness to reform and reap the benefits of digitisation if the process is to lead to more efficiency. It will almost certainly require the reorganisation of some services, to provide one-stop shops for citizens and businesses in dealing with public administration.
One area of particular importance is the impact of ageing societies, particularly in the health and care sectors. There is huge potential to increase efficiency by using e-health more extensively. This includes connecting the different parts of the health system, for example doctors to hospitals, or pharmacies to health insurance agencies. More aggressive use of digital care systems can make it possible for older citizens to stay in their homes and yet be connected to the health system and to alarm systems that provide any necessary help.
Cloud-based digital services could help to boost digital Europe in the field of public services too. The cloud could, indeed, provide a good platform for providing pan-European services. Again, this will require good connectivity, and more must be done to build trust in using such services. Public data is often a cause of concern for citizens. Perhaps even more importantly, the issue of jurisdiction needs to be clarified, because if the global cloud – which will provide the highest degree of efficiency – splits up into national clouds due to the jurisdiction issue, it will leave us all with more inefficient solutions.
All the studies we have conducted on the digital single market at the EPC have shown that we will only see the full benefits of a digital Europe if we do things together within the framework of the European single market. Only then can the benefits of scale be fully exploited. Frankly, a lack of momentum in political decision-making often makes progress very slow and difficult. One example is the development of a European digital signature, which is urgently needed for pan-European services like e-procurement. The lack of a European standard has led to the development of several national schemes, making it even more difficult to create a uniform system.
But at least in the area of cloud computing, which is relatively new, national systems and standards are yet to be firmly established. Let's not miss the opportunity to put in place genuine European rules and standards.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Hans Martens
Quelle/Source: Public Service Europe, 01.03.2012
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