EU realises new eGovernment benchmark report
The European Commission has released an eGovernment benchmark report evaluating the use of information and communication technology in public administration, as well as the degree of cross-border interoperability and electronic interaction among administrations and people or businesses.
This year’s study shows changes in both the level of transparency and the use of digital services, such as eIDs and eDocuments.
It also shows that the distance between the best and worst performing countries has narrowed, currently at 42 percentage points (p.p.) well below the 50 p.p. range. More or less measured over the years 2012-2015.
Malta, Estonia and Austria are at the forefront of online public services, followed closely by Latvia, Lithuania and Finland.
Europe is the most developed in the area of’ user-centricity,’ suggesting that public authorities give priority to programs designed to meet citizens ‘ needs and expectations.
Further measures are required to improve the safety of online public services as well as to increase transparency, cross-border accessibility and the availability of electronic identification and e-documents.
The Benchmark eGovernment report, which has been in place since 2012, is important for informing and contributing to EU policy in the region.
The goal of the eGovernment Banklearning exercise is to compare the performance of eGovernment between countries with similar characteristics, such as status quo features and innovation drivers.
This helps us to recognise countries with similar situations that are doing well and countries that could do better. The eGoverment Banklearning Approach leads to the diffusion of best practices in this way.
Bank-learning exercises could provide an indicator of how the country’s characteristics can affect the quality of eGovernment, thereby hinting at opportunities to improve the efficiency of eGovernment policies.
The quality of eGovernment is assessed by two indicators: adoption and digitisation.
The Commission is committed to supporting the creation and use of cross-border online public services, in particular through its eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020.
eGovernment benchmark report – where does the EU fare best?
Improvement is noticeable to all four top-level metrics. Europe is the most developed in terms of user-centricity, demonstrating that public authorities keep an eye on consumer needs and preferences. Notwithstanding progress, more efforts are required to strengthen the eGovernment dimensions of openness, cross-border flexibility and key enablers.
