Brussels, 04/10/2004 (Agence Europe) - On 28 September, at a meeting on "eGovernment beyond 2005" held at the CoBrA modern art museum in Amsterdam under the aegis of the Dutch Presidency, leaders and representatives of national eGovernment initiatives from some 30 European countries issued a set of recommendations for modernising and stimulating innovation in public administrations between now and 2010.
The recommendations state: - Modern and innovative administrations are essential to achieve the Lisbon goals; - eGovernment is the way forward and a catalyst for innovation, and citizens and businesses should be at the very centre of eGovernment; - Focus must be placed on how public administrations can be transformed to achieve these goals; - and joint European targets should be defined for progress by 2010. Examples could be reducing the administrative burden for citizens and business, and society-wide take-up of on-line public services, etc. Specific recommendations were made on cooperation between Member States and on the transformation of public administrations and its financing. The European Commissioner responsible for the issue, Olli Rehn of Finland, states: "These recommendations are an important contribution to the review of the EU's 'Lisbon' competitiveness strategy and the European Commission's 'eEurope' initiative (…).These recommendations emphasise the key contribution that public administrations can make to improving Europe's competitiveness, growth, innovation and employment rates, as well as social cohesion". (For further information: http: //http://www.europa.eu.int/egovernment_research ).