Joint statement by Vice-President Ansip and Commissioner Gabriel welcoming the adoption of the Tallinn Declaration on e-government - Main contents

"We welcome the EU Ministers' pledge to modernise public administrations in Europe, which is an important boost to the digital economy and society.

European Ministers responsible for e-government committed today to accelerate wider use of electronic identification means across the EU. The Tallinn Declaration marks therefore serious progress for our citizens and businesses.

All Europeans should be able to access online services in other Member States just as they do at home and electronic transactions have to become significantly easier in the internal market.

This is possible only with the strong commitment from all Member States to complete the formal notification of electronic identification means under the eIDAS Regulation and complying with the once-only principle for key public services in the EU. Only then will our citizens and businesses across Europe benefit from the full deployment of efficient digital public services.

The Commission will continue to work closely with the Member States to accelerate this process."

Background:

The Tallinn Declaration on e-government was signed at the Ministerial eGovernment Conference in the presence of Vice-President for the Digital Single Market Andrus Ansip i by all EU Member States and European Free Trade Association (EFTA i) countries.

As a response to the call made by Heads of States during the Digital Summit in Tallinn on 29 September 2017, Member States committed to accelerate the entire implementation of the regulation on the electronic identification and trust services for electronic transactions in the internal market (eIDAS) and the once-only principle for key public services. The once-only principle means that citizens and businesses should supply information only once to a public administration in the EU, regardless in what Member State they are. This is also part of the proposal for the Single Digital Gateway.

Ministers also committed to designing and delivering public services, guided by the principles of user-centricity (such as digital interaction, reduction of the administrative burden, digital delivery of public services, citizen's engagement, redress and complaint mechanisms).

Last week, Germany was the first Member State to complete the formal notification of an eID under the eIDAS Regulation. As part of the Digital Single Market, this step is needed to ensure a mutual recognition and the use of national eIDs across all Member States.

For More Information:

Tallin Declaration on e-government

Success stories in e-government

eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020

Digitising EU industry

STATEMENT/17/3742