Brussels, 24/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - On average, 55% of basic public services are available on the Internet in Europe, that is, 10% more than last year, according to the results of a European Commission study. Online administration is part of the second action plan for the Commission's "Benchmarking e-Europe" initiative, presented at the European Council in Seville. We recall that, in Lisbon, the Member States had undertaken to ensure access by all citizens to online public services in 2002/2003.
According to the study carried out by Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, the interactivity of administrations is, however, very variable from one country to another, with the highest rate of 80% in Irelands and Sweden, around 70% in Finland and Denmark, close to 60% in France, the United Kingdom, Norway and Spain, but less than 50% in Austria (49%), Germany (46%), Belgium (43%), the Netherlands (42%) and Luxembourg (22%).
Online services for business are more developed than services for citizens (68% compared to 47%), except in the Netherlands, notes the study. The services most available online are those relating to taxes and social contributions (79%), followed by vehicle and company registration (53%), and returns such as social security (48%). Services issuing documents and permits or passports are, on the other hand, among the least accessible by Internet (41%).
By way of conclusion, the study notes that the relatively simple public services (such as taxation) are the most "interactive". Other particularly complex public services, such as the issuance of environmental permits, only diffuse information online.