The European Commission has set out its latest proposals to improve the electronic delivery of information and services to citizens across the continent. The proposals, published on 21 January 2004, set out seventeen recommendations for a pan-European interoperability framework, to support the European Union's strategy of providing user centred e-services.
Interoperability is concerned with bringing about collaboration between European governments that wish to exchange information. It means ensuring that the IT systems and the data they process are compatible. It also means enabling the sharing of information and knowledge, says the Commission.
The recommendations include:
- Common definitions and identifiers are needed to allow data to be shared. A common IT language based on XML should be used;
- Member governments should prioritise the development of pan European services according to user demand;
- A "common security policy" needs to be set out and agreed.
Government IT systems which interoperate effectively have the potential to make life easier for citizens. One scenario would be an employee with a long record of working in different European countries. When claiming a pension, they would need to contact social security offices in each country.
The proposals recommend that European governments should work together to determine their requirements for pan-European e-government services, taking into consideration accessibility, multilingualism, security, privacy, the use of open standards and the benefits of open source software.
To bring public administrations closer to citizens and business, European governments must make use of "life events" – such as getting married, or changing job, says the Commission.
European leaders first adopted a plan for the delivery pan-European e-government at a meeting in Seville in 2002. It is part of the EU's overall e-government agenda outlined in the eEurope Action Plan 2005, which calls on the European Commission to issue an agreed interoperability framework to support the delivery of pan-European e-government services to citizens and businesses.
Managers of e-government projects in Europe are invited to respond to the document. Comments can be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., mentioning "EIF" as the subject.
The Commission is preparing a second document to address the long-term implementation and maintenance of the European Interoperability Framework, as well as moves to promote its usage.
Quelle: Kablenet, 23.01.2004
