The DSA Comes Into Effect for All Digital Services
As of 17 February 2024, all digital services are required to comply with the Digital Services Act. This includes online marketplaces, social networks, search engines, cloud services, and more.
Europe | International
Digital government is a focal point not only in the Netherlands but also in many other countries across Europe and beyond.
This presents numerous opportunities. For instance:
- The European Digital Strategy with Europe’s plans for government digitalisation.
- The European Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles champions a values-driven digital transformation, rooted in shared European values.
- The European Digital Decade policy programme sets out tangible targets and goals for 2030 to guide Europe’s digital transformation. This covers 4 key areas: skills, infrastructure, businesses, and public services.
Digital government in an international context
Internationally, the Netherlands is regarded as an innovative country, yet we can always learn from other countries’ experiences. This is why the Netherlands is committed to actively participating in global digital government initiatives. In various international forums, agreements are made, experiences are exchanged, and policies on digital government are established, including in the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the European Union (EU).
European policy and programmes
Achieving a Europe fit for the digital age remains a prime EU priority. The aim is to shape the EU’s digital transition in a manner beneficial for individuals and businesses while contributing to a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. Consequently, the EU has developed an extensive cluster of legislation and policies.
Like in other policy areas, the European Commission proposes new EU legislation and regulations. In the context of digital government, the Directorate-General for Communication Networks, Content and Technology (CONNECT) and the Directorate-General for Informatics (DIGIT) have primary roles. However, proposals affecting this field may also arise from other directorates-general.
The Committee of Ministers, representing all member states, and the European Parliament make decisions on European legislation and regulations proposed by the European Commission. Examples of legislation affecting digital government include directives on open data and on the accessibility of government websites. Subsequently, these regulations are either directly or indirectly translated into national law.
Single Digital Gateway
The Single Digital Gateway is the European gateway for Europeans to information and procedures across the EU. A number of services must be made fully available digitally for cross-border traffic within the EU. Citizens and entrepreneurs have the right to submit data only once within the EU. The agreements about this are laid down in NLDIGIbeter. Halfway through 2019, an impact analysis will be made public about the intended introduction in the Netherlands.
