Proposal for a Decision of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a programme on interoperability solutions for European public administrations, businesses and citizens (ISA2): Interoperability as a means for modernising the public sector

The public sector plays a key role in the economy as regulator, service provider and employer. It accounts for over 25% of total employment and a significant proportion of economic activity in the EU Member States. An efficient and productive public sector can be a strong driver of economic growth through its support for, and governance of, the private sector. At a time when governments are facing up to the challenge of ensuring financial consolidation while fostering growth, competitiveness and employment, there is strong justification for efficiency gains, better governance, faster delivery and more user involvement in the public sector.

Years of work around themes such as interoperability, eGovernment, open data, cloud computing and social innovation have brought within reach a suite of mature concepts and tools. The core novelty is the capacity of open data, participative tools and interoperable platforms to unleash unprecedented speed, efficiency and quality in the creation and delivery of public goods and services. The potential for interlinked and cooperative open governments joining together contributions from various sectors in an interoperable and secure manner is now high, and realising this ambition will be a crucial element for the successful building of the digital single market.

Interoperability programmes have come a long way since they were first introduced in 1995. The Commission has demonstrated its dedication to interoperability solutions over a remarkably long period. Today, strong commitment on all sides is essential if the Commission and the Member States are to transform and modernise services within and across Europe. In this context, interoperability, as a key enabler, has led the way to achieving ‘efficient and effective electronic cross-border and cross-sectoral interaction between […] administrations, […] enabling the delivery of electronic public services supporting the implementation of EU policies and activities’, as called for in the decision on the previous programme (ISA Decision Article 1(2)).

Therefore, in responding to real needs, the current proposal for the continuation of the Commission’s interoperability programme will make a strong contribution to the modernisation of European public administrations.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Faster, better public services for business and citizens as Commission proposes push to sweep away e-barriers http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-faster-better-public-services-for-business-and-citizens-as-commission-proposes-push-to-sweep-away-e-barriers/

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)367: Follow the progress of this proposal through the decision-making procedure http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:367:FIN

ESO: Background information: Website: Interoperability Solutions for European Public Administrations (ISA) http://www.europeansources.info/record/website-interoperability-solutions-for-european-public-administrations-isa/

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