The Tallinn Declaration states, among other things, that citizens and businesses must be able to communicate with the government digitally, and that the Dutch government puts the focus on the user when developing digital services. onder meer dat burgers en bedrijven digitaal kunnen communiceren met de overheid. Also, there has to be more focus on proactive service, skills and accessibility.
Improving service
Within the EU, the member states want to improve their service. For instance, by applying one-time data submission for their most important services and key registers. The aim is to reduce unnecessary administrative burden in cross-border services.
- Identifying options for one-time data submission between member states;
- The possibility to view and correct personal data;
- Increasing open data quality.
All this with the necessary attention to security and trust, following a risk-based approach.
Programmes
ISA2 Programme
ISA2 programme: The European ISA2 programme, which is being executed by DIGIT, stimulates systems interoperability between member states, so that they can effortlessly exchange data across borders and regional barriers. The aim is to improve the service to citizens and businesses. The programme will achieve this by developing frameworks, offering IT solutions, and managing a platform for the exchange of knowledge and IT solutions. An important example of one such framework is the European Interoperability Framework. The EIF can be seen as the European version of the NORA.
Joinup
The Joinup platform focuses on knowledge exchange. It offers a lot of information about policies, projects and facilities in Europe. The Commission uses tendering procedures to execute the ISA2 programme. The annual work programme is drawn up together with the member states.
Connecting Europe Facility
The purpose of the Connecting Europe Facility is to manage a number of Digital Services Infrastructures for cross-border service. The building blocks of these infrastructures have been mainly developed in large-scale pilots, involving partners from the EU member states. Examples of these building blocks are eID, e-delivery, e-documents and e-signatures. The Commission runs the programme by tendering the management of the building blocks on the one hand, and by calls for the connection of building blocks on the other. The calls are executed by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency.
Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020: This programme focuses on research and development, and mainly targets knowledge institutions. In the field of digital government, the so-called focus area ‘Europe in a changing world – Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies’ is of main interest. The Commission executes this programme via calls, which are announced in bi-annual work programmes. These work programmes are established by consultation with the member states.
DigitalEurope
DigitalEurope: The Commission has announced a new programme that will invest heftily in digitalisation, and that will combine existing efforts. The proposal grants budget to AI, high performance computing, cybersecurity, digital skills, and interoperability. This programme is set to come into force in 2021, if the Council and the European Parliament ratify it.