1. Main activities of the Working Group during the Italian Presidency
Department for Innovation and Technologies
Department of Public Administration

2. The Italian Presidency plans to organize two meetings 9-10 July 2003
Immediately following the e-Government international conference held in Como
To discuss the results from the conference (three themes …)
Presentations and discussions could be organized with some best-practices presented in the conference
The study/report about “Central-local relations in e-government” will be launched

3. 13-14 November 2003 (to be held in a place to be defined)
Meetings
13-14 November 2003 (to be held in a place to be defined)
Presentation and discussion of the results of the report/study on “Central-Local relations in e-Government”
Presentation and discussion of the OECD/PUMA report of the e-government project: “The e-government imperative”
Possibly, the results of the study on government back-office reorganization from European Commission could be presented
In both the meetings presentations from member states are welcomed

4. The theme of Central-Local relations
In Italy the theme of Central-Local relations is particularly important
Italy is moving toward a form of federal state
More and more responsibilities and competences are given to the different local levels
Regions (mainly)
Provinces
Municipalities

5. Different dimensions of the “problem”
The relations Central-Local in e-government can be viewed by (at least) three different perspective (not completely independent)
The collaboration at policy making and implementation level (coordination and collaboration among the different level of government and agencies)
The cooperation at service delivery level (architecture of the systems for integrated service delivery)
The coordination at financial/economic provision level (coordination of different funding sources and systems)

6. The collaboration at policy level
Roles of the different level of government and coordination/collaboration mechanisms in the policy making and in the implementation of e-government
How to balance autonomy and need of ensure coherent development of e-government across the national territory
Which use of ICT to support the need for collaboration/coordination?
How avoid duplication and ensure coherent action at both central and local level?
Connections with the funding process

7. The cooperation at service delivery level
The architectures to enable the different roles in e-government services development
Central (technical policy and standards)
Regional (control and budget)
Provincial and Local (delivery of services)
Frameworks to facilitate interoperability of different “local” systems
Reuse of good practices
Role of standards

8. The coordination at financial provision level
Which approach in funding the e-government initiative?
Coordination of the resources available at the different levels of government
How to use central funds to promote the coherent development of e-government initiative across the national territory
Transfer of funds versus competitive approach (call for tenders at central level)

9. Other problems
A large part of municipalities are not adequately equipped
Lack of collaboration of many central and local administrations
Technological barriers (legacy systems, shared infrastructure)
Legislative and regulatory barriers (in terms of recognition of e-processes, complexity of regulation, collaboration frameworks, privacy and security)
Budgetary barriers