To help its neighbours benefit from its expertise and reap the benefits of e-enabled government reform, it has created an E-Governance Academy. The Estonian Government is widely perceived as being one of the most IT-savvy in Europe. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, it has indeed placed particular emphasis on making the best possible use of technology to build an efficient administrative structure and deliver high-quality public services to citizens and enterprises.
As a result, most government business is already being conducted electronically. A paperless culture has been adopted in the administration, from small public agencies to the council of ministers. Electronic documentation has replaced paper in preparations for cabinet sessions, during which ministers review new legislation, make comments and vote electronically using computer terminals. An Internet-based system has even been launched to enable cabinet meetings to be conducted online.
Estonia has also pioneered the development of electronic identity cards as a mean to securely access e-government services. Distribution of national electronic ID cards started in January 2002, and about 25 per cent of the whole population is now covered.
A cutting-edge e-services portal was launched in 2003, and an e-democracy service allows Estonian citizens to comment on draft bills and submit their own ideas for legislation. With such an infrastructure in place, Estonia has one of the highest levels of e-government services take-up in Europe.
In order to enable its neighbours to benefit from its experience and expertise, Estonia has set up a regional academy in 2002. Founded in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Open Society Institute (OSI), the E-Governance Academy (EGA) is a non-profit organisation dedicated to fostering and spreading knowledge on e-government and e-democracy.
In particular, the Academy offers training services for civil servants and policy-makers from countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (particularly Central Asia and the Caucasus) and South Eastern Europe. Based on the analysis of international and domestic experiences, its training courses provide e-government leaders with knowledge and tools to devise and implement successful Information Society strategies and policies, and to build capacity for change.
The EGA also organises research, facilitates networking and enables the exchange of experiences and good practices in broad areas of e-governance.
The Estonian Government, the UNDP and OSI are committed to support the Academy and its operations up to 2005. Beyond that date, the EGA intends to extend its scope and missions. While still helping Eastern countries to acquire e-government knowledge and build up capacity, it will aim to establish itself as one of the leading e-governance training and research institutions in the EU.
Quelle: Public Sector Technology & Management, 14.07.2004
