e-Government International

The term "electronic government" is now synonymous with modern and efficient administration and it has gained a high degree of importance in the international environment.

table of contents

The possibility of accessing administrative services (company facility permit, criminal record statement, registration confirmation etc.) in an extended international perspective has enormous potential.
Various initiatives and concepts for the development of electronic administration are being developed and implemented both at European level and worldwide. Transnational, semi-national or non-governmental organisations are driving or supporting these efforts and enabling coordinated developments through their coordination function.

e-Government in Europe

Digital Single Market for Europe

The Digital Agenda for Europe of 2010 was one of the seven flagship initiatives of the Europe 2020 strategy for growth and jobs. This should promote sustainable economic and social benefits. In 2015, the Digital Single Market Strategy in Europe, was based on three pillars, 

  1. Better online access to goods and services across Europe;
  2. Framework conditions for thriving digital networks and services, and
  3. Exploitation of the growth potential of the digital economy

 Legislative proposals and policy initiatives have been presented by the European Commission.

At the beginning of the Austrian Presidency (first half of 2018), the Digital Single Market Task Force (DSM Task Force) in the former BMDW was set up to coordinate the legislative proposals across departments.

The commitment to the Digital Agenda for Europe and the Digital Single Market Strategy was continued by the EC on 19 February 2020, with the presentation of the Communication on "Shaping Europe's Digital Future", based on three pillars:

  1. technology at the service of people;
  2. a fair and competitive digital economy, as well as
  3. an open, democratic and sustainable society.

 For each pillar, the EC identifies concrete projects (Key Actions).

This EC Communication was accompanied by the Communication on the European Data Strategy and the WHITE PAPER On Artificial Intelligence – A European approach to excellence and trust.

e-Government Benchmark

For years, Austria has been one of the pioneers in the e-Government field. The diverse efforts and pioneering e-Government initiatives of the Austrian administration have been rewarded multiple times with top positions in e-Government comparisons. Here you will find more information on e-Government Benchmark.

e-Government in an international context

There are efforts around the world to improve the interaction and information commitments of the Government through digital technologies and the digitisation of processes and working methods for citizens, businesses and administrations.

United Nations (UN)

UN stands for security, peace, human rights, safeguarding of welfare and the reduction of social differences as well as the protection of the environment. Almost all countries in the world are members of the UN. The UN system comprises 30 organisations operating worldwide. The United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN), a division of the UN Department of Economican Social affairs, publishes a study on e-Government progress every two years. The biennial UN study was launched in 2003 to provide an objective overview of the development in e-Government in the context of overall progress, the readiness for technology and telecommunication infrastructure, and the development in the HR sector.

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)

Currently, the OECD has 56 members (industrial countries) and plays a pivotal role in the field of “good governance". The organisation supports governments in tackling economic, social and environmental policy challenges in a globalised economy. Its headquarter is in Paris.

The Public Governance Committee (PGC) is the steering body for the field of administrative modernisation in which representatives from the OECD member states meet up twice a year. Its task is the strategic alignment of administrative reforms and the evaluation of modernisation measures. Moreover, there is an OECD Network on e-Government, in which members can exchange information on current e-Government activities.

The OECD Committee on Digital Economy Policy (CDEP) is the OECD's steering body on all issues related to digitalisation. It also has the steering role to the OECD's broad "Going Digital" project.

In 2009, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) published the international study "Government at a Glance” for the first time. It includes comprehensive information about the functioning of the public administrations of all OECD member states. Other publications can be found in the virtual OECD library.

World Bank

The World Bank is a special organisation of the United Nations with the aim of reducing poverty – particularly in the developing world – and improving the standard of living. For this purpose, the World Bank grants loans, provides political advice and offers technical assistance. Moreover, the World Bank deals intensively with the topic of e-Government, published a manual on the subject, and runs an e-Government website hosted by the e-Government Practice Group of the Information & Communication Technologies Sector Unit.