The Government of Russia is planning to create a system of electronic government in next two years.

“To put ICT to effective use, a country must
be “e-ready” in terms of infrastructure, the
accessibility of ICT to the population at
large, and the effect of the legal and
regulatory framework on ICT use.”

Spatial Data Infrastructure - Africa (SDI-Africa) is a free, electronic newsletter for people interested in GIS, remote sensing, and data management issues in Africa.
SDI-Africa has been published monthly since May 2002 and has wide circulation across Africa. Each issue highlights recent activities, provides details about available data and tools, and includes notices about upcoming training, employment and funding opportunities, and events. The aim is to strengthen national SDI initiatives and more...

The Russian government (Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Russia, or MEDT) via the TACIS PSIR Project has invited comments on the concept paper "CONCEPT OF E-GOVERNMENT FORMATION IN THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION FOR THE PERIOD UNTIL 2010". (A number of EU and International Experts Experts have already provided written comments to the concept paper.Please review

eAccessibility is one of the focuses of e-Inclusion. While accessibility is a wide concept, e-Accessibility deals mainly with aspects linked to the Information Society. It encompasses the practises that empower people to fully benefit from ICT and information society. eAccessibility problems concern specifically persons with disabilities and ageing people, but also anybody in specific environmental or social situations who experiences difficulties in accessing these new technologies and services more...

Social participation in the information society requires constantly and increasingly new digital skills and competences known as eCompetences or eSkills. This goes beyond basic ICT skills and reflects a person's ability to use ICT for critical thinking, creativity, innovation and other high cognitive skills. People who increase their digital literacy are more likely to benefit from employment opportunities. Improving these abilities is not only necessary for personal development but also vital f more...

The European Public Administration Network (EPAN) Mid-Term Programme 2004-05 aims at “identifying the acquisition of the different skills (not only technical skills) which are needed by managers and clerical staff to govern and manage change. By the end of 2005 the eGovernment skills required will be appraised and recommendations will be agreed by the Member States”.

In response to that, the Ministry of Public Service in Luxembourg requested the European Institute of Public Administration more...

eGovernment has become an explicit component of public sector reform, as an instrument to increase efficiency, strengthen competitiveness and enhance modernization. In this context,the present paradigm on the use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in eGovernment focuses on greater quality and efficiency in public services. This can be achieved mainly by delivering existing services through cheaper ICT-based distribution channels or by complementing existing services with added e more...

The Lisbon Council in 2000 agreed to make a decisive impact on the eradication of poverty and social exclusion by 2010. Through the Open Method of Coordination Member States are encouraged to set out concrete steps in their National Action Plans against poverty and social exclusion and to improve access to the new ICTs and opportunities new technologies can provide. The Riga Ministerial Declaration on e-Inclusion of June 2006 demonstrated the commitment of EU Member States. It has identified six more...

The EU is the zone of cultural and ethnical diversity. Net migration in the EU- 27 exceeds one million people per year. The mere diversification is a great potential that cannot be fully exploited without inclusion. This can be achieved by use of Information and communication technologies (ICT). They can make it easier for migrants to be active and involved in their new communities.

The European Commission is supporting cultural and social inclusion through two channels: