Sweden takes the lead in developing sophisticated public online services
Sweden is ahead of its European neighbours in developing sophisticated online services for both citizens and businesses, a recently published report drafted for the European Commission has revealed. The report, by Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, assesses the performance of Member States and Norway, Iceland and Switzerland in relation to 20 online public services. Particular attention was paid to payment services for taxes and social contributions; data services for births deaths, and marriages; permits and licences. 'The objective of the survey is to provide a benchmark for the European nations and to share best practice. Whilst some countries should accelerate further, several countries already have the main basic public services online,' said Mr Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise and the Information Society. According to the findings, online services have improved in the space of one year by 15 percent. Public services available over the Internet have also increased by 12 per cent in the last year: The report reveals that 86 per cent of the10,500 public service providers assessed had developed online services. With an overall score of 87 per cent, Sweden takes the lead in providing sophisticated online solutions to their citizens and businesses. Ireland, Denmark and Finland also scored higher than 75 per cent in the overall assessment. Sweden also fare well in the assessment of the progress made in public services online; scoring 26 per cent, followed closely by Belgium at 24 per cent and Denmark at 23 per cent. Although in Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany, the online presence of service providers, such as towns, cities, universities, and libraries are above average, the report indicates that their level of sophistication online is less developed.