Green Light for Service Providers
The EU services directive aims to break down national barriers. Sophisticated ICT solutions for efficient e-Government play a key role.
Time is running out. Regional governments and local authorities throughout Europe are under enormous pressure. If the member states of the European Union do not implement the services directive by the end of 2009, they face stiff penalties from Brussels. Since being agreed in 2006, the short timeframe allowed for the implementation of this political vision has resulted in a high level of effort throughout almost all of Europe. This is the first time that e-Government has not simply been the subject of voluntary undertakings. Instead all administrations have been set a deadline for when they must meet the legal requirements.
Two key elements
There are two key criteria that the member states have to meet: Firstly the restrictions for service providers in the internal market are to be reduced and, secondly, administration is to be simplified and procedures made faster. According to the directive, in future there must be a “point of single contact”. This institution (not an individual) must act as adviser, “guide” and process manager for the service providers in relation to the relevant authorities for the required procedures and formalities. It must provide reliable basic general information using simple, clear and understandable language. It must also be able to provide applicants with up-to-date information about the status of their applications. It should also be possible for the service provider to handle all the processes by electronic means. This requirement demands an e-Government portfolio with secure authentication, legally binding transactions, integrated payment functions and processes that do not require cross-media conversion.
Pilot portal - live at CeBIT
Many of Germany’s regions, local authorities and district chambers are working flat out on implementation of the service directive. Baden-Württemberg and Schleswig-Holstein are responsible for Deutschland-Online program (Germany online). “Although we still don’t know who the single contact will be, we have to press ahead with the IT”, explains Helmut Backes, e-Government expert at T-Systems. “If we wait around for all the details to be agreed, we’ll never manage to meet the 2009 deadline.” One concrete result of the preparations is already on view at CeBIT: T-Systems and Baden-Württemberg are showing the “One-Stop-Government” pilot solution there. Visitors to the fair will be able to experience how integrated e-Government works.
What have the various German regions achieved so far in terms of e-Government? And how will a German carpenter and a Spanish optometrist benefit from the services directive in the near future? You will find the full text of the article on the directive in the print version.
