1. Daniel Medimorec:
The Austrian E-Democracy Approach
Workshop
„Vitalizing Democracy through Participation“
Bertelsmann Stiftung, Berlin, 09.06.2010
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

2. Overview
1. EU
2. Austria
3. Southeast Europe
4. Outlook
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

3. EU
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

4. EU Ministerial Declaration of Malmö
„E-Gov 2010-2015”
“… be more open, flexible and collaborative …
Citizens and businesses are empowered by
eGovernment … developed in collaboration with
third parties, … strengthened transparency and
effective means for involvement of stakeholders
in the policy process …”
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

5. Austria
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

6. Official E-Government Vision 2020
E-Democracy elements include
Establish transparency & strengthen trust (active data
protection)
• Insight into processes & data (registries)
• Trust and security in services
• Facilitate access to information
Participation & interactive information systems
• Make available selected public data [focus: content]
• Mashups with private services (maps, route planer, fora,…)
• Follow & use the innovative developments in society &
business for administration
E-Government and E-Democracy are merging
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

7. Austrian eGovernment Cooperation
Federal Government
Platform Digital Austria
Local and National Governments as well as Business Representatives
Federal ICT Board BLSG Board
Federal Ministries Federal Ministries, Provinces,
Municipalities, Chamber Organisations
WG: Infrastructure
& Interoperability
WG: Law
& Security …
Danube University Krems PG: eDemocracy
Centre for E-Government

8. Austrian E-Democracy Strategy:
Building Blocks
1. eDemocracy Strategy
2. eDemocracy & eParticipation Tools
3. eParticipation Prototype Processes
4. eParticipation Modules
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

9. Austrian E-Democracy Strategy:
Main objective
Strengthening and enhancement
of democracy by incorporation of citizens and
their knowledge to improve processes and
results in politics, administration and
society
through the use of interactive media
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

10. Austrian E-Democracy Strategy:
Aims
1. Increase transparency & traceability
2. Improve eParticipation & communication
3. More efficient participation projects
4. Develop new cooperation models
5. Promote social networks
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

11. Participation & Collaboration
in Administration (Jugend2Help)
top down
• Austrian youth-participation-project
• young users were asked to decide on the content
and features of "their" HELP-space themselves.
• ~900 contributions
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government
• ~2000 votes

12. Participation & Collaboration
in Policy-Making
bottom up
• project allows the citizens to:
• Access, view and compare the
political/election programs of different parties
• find profiles of candidates & ask questions
• read all collected answers
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

13. South East Europe
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

14. Croatia
UN E-Participation 2010 index
“High level e-participation countries (among the first 30 countries in the
world):
Estonia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary. All countries except
Croatia in this group are a EU member states.
Administration:
eCroatia Office
Main focus: Infrastructure – digital TV
Project:
e.g. “Zelena Patrola“
Varardin County
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

15. FYR Macedonia
UN E-Participation 2010 index
“Medium level e-participation countries (ranking 31-100 in the world):
Bulgaria,
Latvia, Ukraine, Republic of Belarus, Poland, FYR Macedonia“ among
others
Administration: Minister of Information Society
Project: E-Government - The National Strategy and Action Plan for
Information
One goal:
Society Development: Creation of a web-portal allowing for the
participation of citizens in the society building process (E-
Democracy);
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

16. Serbia, Bosnia & Herzegovina
UN E-Participation 2010 index
“Low level e-participation countries (ranking among least developed
countries in the world): Bosnia – Herzegovina & Serbia“
Administration:
Bosnia & Herzegovina: Ministry of Communication and Transport of
BiH (Federal Level)
Serbia: Ministry of Telecommunications and Information Society
Main focus for both countries:
Public Administration Reform
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

17. Outlook
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

18. Outlook - Policy recommendation:
Open Government principles
Transparency in politics & administration
Innovation in society - cooperation & coproduction
New mindsets of decision makers & officials
Address & solve complex political questions -
innovative strength of society
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government

19. Thank you for
your attention!
Danube-University Krems
daniel.medimorec@donau-uni.ac.at
www.donau-uni.ac.at/egov
Danube University Krems
Centre for E-Government