Planning the Development of Electronic Government: Overview of Main Documents

Abstract

The initiatives aimed at the development of electronic government are directly related to the attempts of
public sector modernisation, which are taking place in many European countries. E-government is a complex
issue, comprising technological, political, social, economic aspects. In narrow conception e-government can be
understood as a provision of information and services of public authorities via electronic channels; in a broad
definition, e-government comprises different aspects of implementing of information and telecommunication
technologies in the public sector, as provision of services is inseparable from broader context: channels of services
and communication, competence of population and public servants, etc. These different concepts are reflected in
the information society’s planning documents of different countries.
The article reviews the planning of e-government in Lithuania and Europe. Basic Lithuania’s and Europe’s
documents dedicated for planning of e-government are studied. In this field, the most important document in
Lithuania is the Conception of Electronic Government that was approved by the Government of the Republic of
Lithuania at the end of 2002; this document sets goals and objectives, range and priorities, management, financing
and implementation of processes of e-government in Lithuania. Later, adequate documents of two international
European organisations whose member is Lithuania – European Union and Council of Europe – are analysed. The
article analyses and compares main concepts, ideas and aspects as well as suggested priorities and ways of egovernment’s
development that are set in those documents.