The European Commission has unveiled a series of e-government
targets that Information Society Commissioner Erkki Liikanen has
promised will be met.
Speaking to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral
Assistance Democracy Forum 2001 in Stockholm, Liikanen listed a
number of deadlines, including:
- Essential public data to be brought online (end 2002)
- Electronic access to main basic public services (end 2003)
- Simplified online procedures for business (end 2002)
- All basic transactions with the Commission to be online (end
2001)
Liikanen said, "The Commission has set ambitious targets for
putting its activities online, both as to the front office and the
back office."
E-government, he added, should help the Commission consult more
widely on its proposals - a key consideration given the remoteness
of the institution from most European Union citizens.
He cited Canada as an example of a well-designed e-government
network, where
www.canada.gc.ca is a
single entry portal to all government services.
The next stage for e-government, he said, is developing interactive
services that include the ability to "handle economic transactions
so that you can pay your taxes online".
Spain already has a system where income and property taxes can be
declared and paid online at
www.aeat.es, said the
Commissioner.
Keith Nuthall
keith.nuthall@rbi.co.uk.