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eGovernment in the European Union May 2015European eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015The European eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 was launched on 15 December 2010during the 'Lift-Off Towards Open Government' conference. The plan aims to realise thevision of the 5th Ministerial eGovernment Conference on 18 November 2009, in Malmö,Sweden (the 'Malmö Declaration'): by 2015 European public administrations become "…recognised for being open, flexible and collaborative in their interactions with citizens andbusinesses. They use eGovernment to increase their efficiency and effectiveness and toconstantly improve public services in a way that caters for user's different needs andmaximises public value, thus supporting the transition of Europe to a leading knowledgebasedeconomy."Based upon this declaration, the eGovernment Action Plan 2011-2015 identifies fourpolitical priorities: Empower citizens and businessesCitizens and businesses are to be empowered by eGovernment services designedaround users’ needs to provide flexible and personalised ways of interacting andperforming transactions with public administrations; these services should be developedin collaboration with users, whenever possible. Following this approach, public servicescan gain in efficiency and users' expectations will be better met, resulting in theirincreased satisfaction. Empowerment also means that governments should provide easyaccess to public information, improve transparency and allow effective involvement ofcitizens and businesses in the policy-making process. Reinforce mobility in the Single MarketeGovernment should support the further construction of a Digital Single Market.However, substantial issues remain to be solved regarding transferability of publicservices such as those related to social security, health benefits, pensions and otherpersonal services. Governments should develop services to increase the mobility of bothcitizens and businesses within Europe. 'Seamless' services for entrepreneurs shouldfacilitate setting up and running a business all across Europe, while personal mobility ofcitizens should be increased to allow them to study, work, reside, receive health careand retire anywhere in the European Union. Moreover, easier provision of eGovernmentservices for citizens and businesses across borders should be achieved by proposingactions to reinforce the Digital Single Market and to strengthen cooperation in this field. Enable efficiency and effectivenessThe actions on this priority will focus on using ICT and enabling organisational changesto deliver better, less intrusive, more sustainable and faster public services by reducingthe administrative burden, improving organisational processes and promoting asustainable low-carbon economy. Create the necessary key enablers and pre-conditions to make things happenA number of technical and legal preconditions need to be put in place to enable theimplementation of actions that will enhance eGovernment services in Europe. Theseinclude the promotion of interoperability across borders to allow - among others -sharing of information; deployments of one-stop-shop approaches; and Europe-wideuse of (national) electronic identity solutions and payment schemes. Interoperability isto be supported by open specifications and the development of key enablers, such aselectronic identity management and stimulation of innovation in eGovernment.This eGovernment Action Plan for 2011-2015 aims at maximising the complementarynature of national and European policy instruments. It supports the transition from currenteGovernment to a new generation of open, flexible and collaborative seamlesseGovernment services at local, regional, national and European levels that will empower[9]