Overview

Sweden is participating in many initiatives to promote and establish eGovernment services as quickly as possible. I believe they will be one of the first countries to reach high levels of adoption of these electronic services due to the high rates of computer and internet diffusion combined with the fact that the Swedes are often the first to accept new technology. Sweden is not only working to provide these services on its own, but through EU initiatives. One of the main projects, the 24/7 Agency was introduced three years ago and continues to be a large focus of the Swedish government. Another current effort to promote eGovernment services is the Northern eDimension eGovernment Action Line which is also described in more detail below.

The 24/7 Agency

European Commission's Interchange of Data between Administrations (IDA)

Goal: connect citizens, governments and enterprises throughout the EU.

Strategy: Each year they create and implement a "Work Programme" to outline specific projects to attain an eEurope. One of their main initiatives for Sweden is to create the 24/7 Agency.

" The concept of the 24/7 Agency -- a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week online public service -- was presented three years ago as a government initiative and a part of the national IT action plan. It is now a high priority issue and expected to keep the country in front of the world's information society nations. The 24/7 Agency will offer electronic services to citizens from national and local government agencies irrespective of time and geographical location."(Source: Center for Digital Government (11))

The main criteria that must be met for this goal to be achieved, is for all agencies to be connected electronically and share the same infrastructure, standards, certificates and general rules and regulations(10). The plan outlines the service channels that will be included as Internet Services ( web, e-mail, mobile client programs) , Telephone services ( automated attendants, service telephones, call centers) and Television services ( teletext, interactive digital television). There are also four stages that have been defined for this process:

• Stage 1: Website containing 'packaged' information about the agency and its services
• Stage 2: Website containing 'interactive' information about the agency and its services
• Stage 3: Website and communicative functions that allow the visitor to submit and retrieve personal information
• Stage 4: Website and network functions for joined-up services involving several agencies and institutions

Source: EU: Interchange of Data between Administrations (10)

Distribution of eGovernment Services

Source: Facts about Information and Communications Technology in Sweden 2003(6)

The Swedish government has recently begun to offer the option to make payments electronically. For example, the National Road Administration has sent out eInvoices to small test groups with hopes that at least 10% of vehicle taxes will be paid electronically within the next few years (6). Municipalities are also expected to adopt eInvoices due to the large cost savings associated with the streamlined processing.

Northern eDimension eGovernment Action Line

The Northern eDimenstion Action Plan was designed by the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) and the European Commission to improve overall IT capabilities. The countries included in this region are Sweden, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Germany and Russia. There are seven action lines within this plan, one of which is the eGovernment Action Line headed by the Swedish Ministry of Industry, Employment and Communications. The main goals of this plan are:

• Benchmarking and establishing mutual base for eGovernment services
• Improving cross-border co-operation and developing new services

Source: Ministry of IEC (12)