INTERNET: MORE e-GOVERNMENT FOR THE PEOPLE.

e-government is one of the main goals of the "e-Europe 2005 action plan: An information society for all", adopted under the Lisbon Strategy. Eurostat's survey on company use of ICT was based on three levels of interaction with public authorities: obtaining information, downloading forms, and returning filled-in forms. Obtaining information was the most common activity in the EU-15. On average, 44% of companies sought information in this way in 2003. Finland and Sweden led the pack, while the UK and Germany lagged far behind.

Experts say the level of interaction depends on the kind of business: a clothes shop needs less contact with public bodies than a firm distributing dangerous goods. Companies involved in real estate, renting and business activities have more dealings with e-government than any other - in each country examined as well as across the EU-15.

Companies use e-government far less for downloading and returning forms, although this may be because this option is not universally available. In the EU in 2003, 44% of companies sought information, 38% downloaded forms, and only 23% returned filled-in forms.

Regarding on-line availability of public services (income tax, job search, vehicle registration, building permission applications, etc.), Denmark, Finland and Sweden were head and shoulders above the rest. But Austria and Ireland also did well with scores of over 75% (degree of...

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