European E-Government Research Projects Highlighted

Photo: EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media Viviane Reding

The European Union is seeing savings from information and communications technolgies (ICT) and hopes to leverage successful programs across all member states. In Denmark, for example, electronic invoicing has saved taxpayers €150 million and businesses €50 million. According to a report: e-Government and e-Participation, if the Danish invoicing system was rolled out across the EU, projected annual savings would total €50 billion. Likewise, Belgium's Internet-based system of benefits for disabled persons is highlighted. "E-government promises, and can deliver, better services at lower cost," says the report, which goes on to say that it is an important part of the EU's i2010 Action Plan.

But there is much more to do, says the report. For example, only 5 percent of cross-border procurements in France and Germany are managed electronically. Greater takeup of electronic procurement would "shake up the supply market through enhanced competition."

The report, a policy perspective on ICT research, looks at a number of ICT projects which "do make a difference for citizens and businesses dealing with public administrations at all levels." Here are a number of those highlighted.

Efficiency and Effectiveness

• TERREGOV project: Helps small local governments develop digital services.
• ITAIDE project: Integrated customs site.
• IntelCities project: Developed a common e-government platform.
• SEEMP: Developing a platform to link job offers with job seekers.

High Impact Services

• OneStopGov project: Life events such as birth, marriage, driver license and death on one site.
• HOPS project: Helps make call centers more usable and friendly.
• Use-me.Gov project: Enables local governments to deliver services to mobile phones.

Democracy

• EPRI Knowledge project: Encourages politicians to use ICT.
• QUALEG project: How technology can iimprove participation in local government.
• eRepresentative project: Developing a virtual parliamentary desktop.