All the European Union Member States and EFTA countries signed the 'eGovernement Declaration' in Tallin on 6 October 2017. The declaration was signed during the Ministerial Meeting which took place in the framework of the eGovernement Ministerial Conference. This was chaired by Minister Urve Palo, representing the Estonian Presidency of the Council of the EU and in the presence of Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market.

This marks a new political commitment at EU level on significant priorities towards ensuring high quality, user-centric digital public services for citizens and seamless cross-border public services for businesses.

The Member States reaffirmed their commitment to progress in linking up their public eServices and implement the eIDAS regulation and the once-only principle in order to provide efficient and secure digital public services that will make citizens and businesses lives easier. 

Since the 'Malmö Declaration' signed in 2009, progress has been made to modernise public administrations across Europe and deliver cross border eServices, eProcurement and electronic identification (eID)

All European Union Member States and EFTA countries signed the 'government Declaration' in Tallinn at the Ministerial meeting which took place alongside the government Ministerial Conference on 6 October 2017. The unanimous agreement took place in the presence of Andrus Ansip, European Commission Vice-President for the Digital Single Market. This marks a new political commitment at EU level on priorities that will ensure high quality, user-centric digital public services for citizens as well as seamless cross-border public services for businesses.

The eGovernment Declaration follows the Malmo Declaration signed in 2009 and the launch of the eGovernment Action Plan 2016-2020which both recognise that service-oriented, reliable and innovative government at all levels are essential to develop a dynamic, productive and European society. Since 2009, luckily several key milestones have been achieved, such as eProcurement, the deployment of key cross border services funded by the Connecting Europe Facility programme and the electronic identification (eID).

The 'Tallinn Declaration' provides an important impetus for Member States and the Commission, both collectively and individually, to continue to invest in accelerating the modernisation of the public sector. 

In the annex of the Declaration, Ministers in charge of policy and coordination of digital public services in the countries recognise the needs and expectations of citizens and businesses as they interact with public administrations. They commit to designing and delivering their services, guided by the principles of user-centricity (such as digital interaction, reduction of the administrative burden, digital delivery of public services, citizens engagement, redress and complaint mechanisms)

Ministerial Declaration on eGovernment - Tallinn declaration

Follow the discussion on the topics of the declaration during the High Level Conference (afternoon 6 October)