Main strategic objectives and principles

Last updated: October 2011

Revision of Building eGovernment (2011-2013)

The 'Revision of Building eGovernment' is a medium-term priorities implementation plan, which was adopted by the Government Resolution No. 72/2011.

This document lays primary importance on the reduction of the administrative burden of citizens and businesses. The main aim is to simplify administrative processes for particular life events. These changes have to be implemented within a legislative and a technological context. This document does not substitute the existing strategy materials, but establishes an approach in the field of project implementation and acceleration.

eGovernment Strategy of the Slovak Republic (2008-2013)

The 'eGovernment Strategy of the Slovak Republic' is the principal strategic document for the implementation of eGovernment. It was approved by Government Resolution No. 131/2008 on 27 February 2008. The eGovernment Strategy was prepared by the Ministry of Finance in cooperation with the Government Office and the Government Plenipotentiary for Information Society.

The purpose of the eGovernment Strategy of the Slovak Republic is to ensure increased citizen satisfaction with the public administration. This is to be achieved by delivering services in an attractive and simple manner, while increasing the efficiency and competence of public administration and reducing its costs. The document lays down the strategy and defines the criteria and procedures of eGovernment funding which combine state budget funds with resources from the EU Structural Funds.

The following eGovernment strategic objectives have been put forward for the period until 2013:

1. Improved satisfaction of citizens, businesses and other public bodies with public administration

• enable all citizens, including the disabled ones, to use eGovernment services;
• reduce considerably the administrative burden of citizens and business entities when handling administrative formalities, via transparent procedures;
• improve citizen participation in public matters through the use of ICT.

2. Electronic public administration services

• create and link the registers that may be used for legal acts;
• implement the key tools for the delivery of electronic services;
• ensure the upgrading of the portfolio of its electronic services;
• initiate and support a law-making process to implement eGovernment services.

3. Effective and efficient public administration

• create a joint secured infrastructure for eGovernment services and support operations;
• use central applications and services for the performance of selected operations. Systematic management and utilisation of existing projects will avoid duplication;
• perform 100 % of public procurement operations through electronic means in all areas and remove relevant legislative barriers.

4. Enhanced competency of public administration

• achieve computer literacy for the majority of Slovak public administration employees;
• increase training courses for employees covering specific IT, project and managerial skills.

The National Concept of eGovernment (2008-2013)

'The National Concept of eGovernment', approved by the Government on 21 May 2008, is a strategic document drafted by the Ministry of Finance, which addresses the principles for the building up of eGovernment and the introduction of electronic services in Slovakia. The document builds on the 'eGovernment Strategy of the Slovak Republic' and lays down the principles, priorities and architecture of integrated information systems in public administration to safeguard their interoperability and independence from technology platforms.

The National Concept of eGovernment:

• outlines the framework of eGovernment services so that the administrative processes are effectively digitised within the entire structure of public administration;
• defines eGovernment principles so that public administration's activities during the application of ICT are aimed at digitisation of administrative processes and delivery of effective eServices to the public;
• defines the architecture of integrated Public Administration Information Systems (PAIS) so that public administration provides citizens with information, communication and transactional eServices;
• describes the policy approach PAIS administrators should apply in the development of eGovernment services in areas under their responsibility;
• outlines priorities whose realisation will launch the process of effective development of eGovernment.

Once the concept is implemented, it will be possible to arrange administrative matters by various electronic means and to reduce the time inefficiently spent by citizens/businesses when handling their affairs at various offices in person. It will also create the conditions for reductions in administrative charges, and elimination of multiple performances of identical actions, thus making, the public administration more effective and transparent. Furthermore, the use of ICT will gradually shift from paper to electronic processing of documents and electronic communication both within the public administration and other public entities.

National Strategy for Information Security of the Slovak Republic (2008-2010)

In August 2008, the Government approved the 'National Strategy for Information Security of the Slovak Republic'. The strategy defined starting points, allocated competences and proposed aims, priorities and steps to be taken in order to lay down an information security framework. It also included a basic description of individual tasks intended to ensure the protection of the entire Slovak digital space, with the exception of classified information falling under the competence of the National Security Authority. These involved measures to avoid information leaks and its unauthorised use, violation of data integrity, violation of a citizen’s right to protection of personal data, measures to protect against damage and misuse of ICT systems, as well as measures to enforce applicable Slovak and EU laws.

The Concept of Software Products Usage for Public Administration (2009-2013)

The Concept of Software Products Usage for Public Administration was approved by the Government on 15 July 2009. It defines a framework strategy for the procurement, placement and operation of software products in the public administration environment inline with the eGovernment development objectives set for the upcoming years and in compliance with EU requirements and recommendations.

The goals set forth are to:

• ensure common understanding of the new approach to the use of software products in public administration;
• identify options to save costs throughout a whole life cycle of the usage of software products in public administration;
• identify necessary steps in order to implement the principles of effective use of software products.

Previous eGovernment Strategies

Competitiveness Strategy for the Slovak Republic until 2010 (2004-2010)

The 'Competitiveness Strategy for the Slovak Republic until 2010' adopted in December 2004 stressed the role of eGovernment for increasing the country’s competitiveness. The primary objective of computerising Public Administration was to provide more effective services for citizens and the private sector. To this end, it was necessary to:

• interconnect the basic information systems of the Public Administration in an effective and secure way, to define the standards and interfaces for data exchange between Public Administration bodies;
• gradually make services accessible at a central public portal to citizens and especially to activities that would be using these services the most;
• improve the function of all public registers and databases through their complete computerisation and migration to online services;
• effectively facilitate the introduction of information technology in the public sector through an audit of spending resources on ICT and Public Administration services;
• introduce concepts, monitor the concrete project results and evaluate joint public procurement;
• ensure high-quality ICT equipment in the Public Administration and IT literacy of employees;
• introduce secure electronic identification cards necessary for transactions within eGovernment.

Strategy and Action Plan for the Development of the Information Society (2004)

Slovakia’s overall eGovernment strategic objectives were set in the 'Strategy and Action Plan for the Development of the Information Society' adopted in January 2004. According to the document, strategic objectives of Public Administration computerisation were to ease and widen citizens' participation in public affairs through the computerisation of public services; to ease communication between businesses and Public Administration; to increase the effectiveness of Public Administration through digitisation; and to prepare Public Administration for a smooth integration into EU structures.