At the CeBIT trade fair in Germany, Austrian Secretary of State, Heidrun Silhavy, held discussions with international ICT executives on the eGovernment implications of the EU’s Services Directive.

"Completion of the internal market in services is a major building block and contribution to more growth and employment in the European Union,” Silhavy told a CeBIT seminar. This is because services account for 60-70 % of economic activity in the EU Member States, and about the same percentage of jobs.

The Services Directive, due to be transposed into national legislations by the end of 2009, also has big implications for ICT and eGovernment. Austria is well prepared for this, she said. Its Citizen’s Card concept provides “clear identification and secure authentication” for users of electronic services and for transfers between administrations. And its much-used eGovernment portal (http://help.gv.at/) will smoothe the transition.

“The quality of the implementation of the Services Directive and the synergies with existing eGovernment elements” could give Austrian firms “competitive advantages in Europe”, Silhavy insisted. “The transposition of the Services Directive to Austria requires a tailor-made eGovernment solution which will make it possible for firms from other EU Member States to deliver services in Austria, but will also mean an enormous increase in services for Austrian firms. Quite rightly, Austrian enterprises expect to be provided with suitable solutions in each of the other Member States.”

Held annually in Hannover, CeBIT claims to be the world’s largest ICT trade fair. German eGovernment exhibits on display this year included the planned new eID card and the Citizen’s Portal.

Further information:

• Austrian eGovernment portal 
• Press release (in German) 
• kBST – Press release (in German) 
• CeBIT website