The Declaration of Intended Activities of the Cabinet of Ministers approved on 1. December 2004 Chapter on “Information Society” provides the introduction of a range of strategically significant activities in the information society development and e-Government field in Latvia.
In 2004 December for the first time in Latvia was created the position of Minister who is responsible for e-Government, information society and information technologies policy development, implementation and coordination.
In order to provide the implementation of the tasks above mentioned since 2005 there has been working The Secretariat of the Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs – the state administration institution under the direct supervision of the Minister.
Main functions of the Secretariat of Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs are the following:
to organize and coordinate the development and implementation of the state policy in the field of electronic government, Information Society and IT;
facilitating and coordinating the development of state and local governments electronic services.
Political support to the Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs and to the Secretariat is ensured by the operation of the Information Society National Council.
The Information Society National Council established in Latvia in 2000.
The Information Society National Council is a consultative and coordinating institution.
Its main aims: to facilitate the development of the Information Society in Latvia; to coordinate the inclusion of the country in the global and European knowledge economy development process; to facilitate the state sustainable development, rise of the Gross National Product and the rise in living standards in all society.
The better understanding of the Information Society in Latvia proves the fact that the Information Society National Council is chaired by the Prime Minister of the state.
Political progress of Latvia with the Information Society provided by information and communication technologies is determined by the Cabinet of Ministers which has adopted the following strategic policy planning documents:
National programme “Informatics” (adopted in 1999), the main goal – to develop the Information Society in Latvia. The economic goals of the programme – a rise in living standards of all the society using ICTs resources;
Socio-Economic programme “ e-Latvia” ( adopted in 2002), the main goal – recognizes foundation of the Information Society and development towards knowledge based on digital economics which promotes competitiveness, employment and also the quality of people living conditions and environment in European Union;
Latvia’s e-Government Conception (adopted in 2002), the goal is modernization of state administration based on opportunities of information technologies and the usage of workings characteristic to e-business activities.
E-Government Development Program 2005-2009 is based on Latvia eGovernment Conception and Latvia State Public Government Reform Strategy (2001 – 2006). The Program is closely linked with initiatives eEurope 2005 Action Plan and the new European level strategy “i2010 – A European Information Society for growth and employment” – adopted by European Commission on 1 June, 2005.
The basic action lines of the Program are: to improve state and municipal information technology infrastructure and collaboration between State Registers, to create new channels for government services specially emphasize is on the one-stop agency principle in the above mentioned area, to create new e-services – primarily the most required for citizens and business, to improve the quality of services by ICT solutions, to create new state information systems and to develop municipalities information systems.
The financing resources for e-Government Development Program are State budget resources, co-funding of EU Structural Funds and others.
1. The objectives of the e-Government are:Fully improve state administration system, to eradicate unnecessary stages, to simplify bureaucratic procedures, To provide publicity and transparency in decision making procedures as well as increase of society participation in the work of state administration, to improve the existing state and local government information systems services = e-connection between the society and state administration.
2. e-Government development level in Latvia:To make available for society a number of online services – customs and tax electronic declarations, services of Latvia’s Register of Enterprises, employment search services, library services, shopping information, various branch industry statistics, possibilities of communication and interaction.
To support and develop the work of local governments unified local government system modules and commercial domain software (only in large cities) have been made. Individual cities have introduced electronic services (e-Riga, e-Ventspils, e-Cesis etc.)
A good example from practice in e-inclusion in public – private cooperation is the following:
On 13 May 2005 the Special Assignments Minister for Electronic Government Affairs invited state administration institutions to take part in campaign “With computers towards knowledge”. Within its framework it is intended to present the used computers from state institutions to schools of Latvia. The project is supported by the following organisations – Ltd “Microsoft Latvia”, State Joint Stock company “Latvijas Pasts” and Ltd ”Commercial centre Data group”.
Participation in the project has announced a number of ministries and State Chancellery. It is planned that as a result of the project schools of Latvia could receive even 200 computers. The delivery of computers will be coordinated by the Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Electronic Government Affairs..
3. e-servicesThere are about 4000 ICTs companies which constitute about 12% of the State Gross product with annual turnover more than 700 million lats. Most of enterprises are specialized in providing with various information technology services but the largest turnover makes telecommunication enterprises.
Promotion of export and qualified availability of human resources ( e-Education) are the main tools for development.
The total investment of society Information society services is larger than 12% of Gross product because e-services also considerably add value in such sectors as banking, tourism and education though there is no research done about their proportion to other services.
Less developed but gradually growing are electronic commerce services with 7 million LVL annual turnover.
Information (content) services are prospective field with high added value, export possibilities and significant influence to other service industry (tourism, culture). At present the turnover is about 5 million LVL.
Legislation defining legal status and conditions of use of electronic signatures (Electronic Documents Law) has come into force on 1 January 2003 in Latvia. Next phase of the process envisages implementation of digital signature. For this purpose the Digital Signature Project is realizing in Latvia. The main goals of the project are choice of digital signature carrier, development of digital signature infrastructure, selection of reliable service provider as well as implementation of qualified digital signature and set of e-services requiring usage of digital signature.
Tasks
To facilitate the usage of ICTs options and to lower the knowledge gap;
To put in order e-government normative documentation ( Organizing and technical normative of State Information system, data exchange provisions, legal power of register data);
To improve the collaboration between State Registers – in 2005 for 30% but in 2009 up to 100% of State and local government registers shall be connected in unified system;
To develop different types of services and make technical and organizing infrastructure services available and easy accessible for usage;
To develop new e-services – by 2009 significantly enlarge their proportion: in 2006 it is foreseen to introduce 25 e-government services, by 2007 - 30 services but by 2008 and 2009 – 60 services;
To support the projects initiated by local governments also adoptable in other municipalities;
To inform and educate the society so they can fully use ICTs options while usinge-government services. Internet management and security.
Latvia approves the necessity to support Internet security in global level as important stability factor. Security measures shall begin in national level and continue cross-borders and globally.
In compliance with law on Information society services the Consumer rights protection centre will supervise the spam.
Internet solutions in public policies field shall be based on communication and cooperation which give the opportunities to residents fully use the modern technologies. To put into practice this principle it is planned to represent the state inside the global network with A State portal in 2006. Also in 2005 will be developed national regulation for state institutions home pages introduction and maintenance.
