UNUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe

Press Release

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Geneva, 12 April 2002


No e-government without good government!

"There cannot be any e-government without good government! E-tools are a fundamental instrument for policy reform, but only sound policies and a deliberate effort at structural reform can ensure the success of e-government strategies". This is one of the main messages that Mr. Paolo Garonna, Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), brought to the International Conference on "E-Government for Development" organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs and the Italian Government in Palermo 10 - 11 of April 2002.

The UNECE has developed a considerable experience in advising and supporting member governments in structural policy reform by developing standards and promoting the dissemination of best practise, particularly in the field of transport, environment, trade, energy and enterprise development. It is well placed therefore to contribute significantly to the various initiatives underway on e-government. "UNECE is engaged in supporting the linkage of the different policy networks, though which it operates, among themselves and with the stakeholders, the citizens, the users of public services, and the private sector. This can only be done through advanced e-government tools". In this way, and through a set of various instruments, UNECE is raising awareness and promoting access to e-tools, particularly the Internet. It therefore ensures that e-government serves the purpose of better policies and democratic governance.

Putting policymaking in an e-government perspective enables to take informed decisions based on actual evidence, learning by doing and a sound analytical framework. The Italian Minister for Innovation and ICT, Mr. Lucio Stanca, insisted on this empowering capacity of e-government. It permits in fact the establishment and usage of targeted databases, indicators and benchmarks, and the identification and dissemination of best practise and other "soft regulation" techniques. In sum, it raises the quality of policies, and politics.

The experience of transition countries has been presented at the meeting by Ms. Ermelinda Meksi, the Economics Minister of Albania, one of the five developing countries participating as partners in the Italian initiative. Ms Meksi highlighted that the development of an e-government strategy can be a powerful stimulus to the kind of reforms required by the transition, like public administration reform, business registers and e-procurement. Opening up policymaking to the interchange of experience and contacts with other countries, adjusting the regulatory environment, attracting FDIs, strengthening the rule of law, can be strongly enhanced by e-government initiatives. The experience of Slovenia in this context has been particularly successful, as the Information Society Minister of Slovenia, Mr. Pavel Gantar, illustrated it.

"But the most powerful incentive to reform has been the prospect of accession to the European Union!" declared Minister Meksi. The regional dimension, and the perspectives of economic integration in Europe can be of great political significance for e-government. "The value of the regional dimension is at the heart of the role that the ECE is playing in promoting cooperation in Europe and North America in preparation of the Geneva and Tunis summits on the information society" said Paolo Garonna. "An ICT common European space is emerging linking countries in the ECE region under the pressure of common issues and, more importantly, on the basis of a shared vision of a coordinated approach to e-government and e-society policies".

The experience of UNECE with public private partnerships (PPPs) has attracted considerable attention at the Palermo meeting. PPPs can be a tool for developing and implementing e-government programmes. At the same time, e-tools can be valuable in supporting PPPs for infrastructure development or the provision of better quality public services. The network of PPPs Units in member governments, recently established by the UNECE, can play a useful role in sharing experience on e-government initiatives. "The successful operation of this network in disseminating information and promoting best practise will be in itself a good test of the performance of e-government strategies in Europe and North America" concluded Mr. Garonna.

For further information please contact:

Paolo Garonna
Deputy Executive Secretary
United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
CH - 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Tel: (+41 22) 917 4144
Fax: (+41 22) 917 0505
E-mail: [email protected]

Ref. ECE/GEN/02/06