E-Government: From Technology-driven to Citizen-driven
In a European Commission initiative, advanced in European Governance: A White Paper (2001), the role of ICT in engaging with the issue of a democratic deficit in relation to governments and EU institutions is addressed. Here a new framework for co-operation on information is announced and it recognises that ‘information and communication technologies have an important role’ to play in the evolution of a partnership model of policy-making. It’s own institutions are linked into a ‘interactive platform for information, feedback and debate, linking parallel networks across the Union’ [1]. In general, the European Union has more recently engaged in enthusiastic postings on their EUROPA website of a great deal of information material, showing its operations, processes and decisions and inviting consultation on a large number of initiatives.
