EU urged to rethink e-government
Kablenet.com
Published: 22 Sep 2004 11:20 BST
The Dutch presidency of the EU wants to rethink Europe's e-government agenda encouraging member states to adopt "more complex" applications and transactional systems, according to its latest IT strategy report.
The report, which is published in advance of an EU IT policy conference on 29 September, 2004, calls for "breakthroughs" in e-government. Rather than focusing on IT "connectivity" it wants to see more sophisticated "innovative government services" on offer.
It also wants further progress in three key areas – authentication, electronic payment systems and IT security. It recommends the creation of pan-European initiatives in these areas.
On authentication, the report says: "The vision that should drive future actions should be the creation of an interoperable European framework for identity management. The aim should be to create an interoperable solution for authentication on a pan-European level. Whether the authentication device is a smart card, software token or an embedded chip, and whether the authentication service provider is a government entity, a bank or a telco, should make no difference."
It calls on the EU to define the requirements for an authentication infrastructure.
European governments should take care in how they set up e-payments systems, it adds.
"Interoperability through harmonisation across the EU is required. However, the involvement of the respective governments should be technically neutral and be limited to correcting a level playing field and avoid unnecessary regulation of payment products in order not to inhibit innovation."
"Harmonisation at the European level of the conditions, relating to the right to provide payment services to the public, and establishment of the principle of mutual recognition should enable and stimulate the cross border use of pan-European payment solutions."
The report, written by PricewaterhouseCoopers on behalf of the presidency, is also to be used to help brief ministers before the meeting of the EU Telecoms Council later this year.
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