1. E-GOV Freie Hansestadt BremenRef. 36 – E-Government The „Virtual Region Northwest“ (Virtuelle Region Nordwest) A case study in regional development for the Workshop A “Improving the Economic Vitality and Attractiveness of Regions“ Open Days, Brussels, 11.10.2006 Dr. Martin Hagen Senator for Finances, Free Hanseatic City of Bremen

2. E-GOV Freie Hansestadt BremenRef. 36 – E-Government www.vir-nordwest.de

3. E-GOV Freie Hansestadt BremenRef. 36 – E-Government E-Government  is a crucial element in strategies to improve economic vitality and attractiveness of regions across Europe.  Business will profit from more efficient processes and less administrative burdens.  On the Commission level, initiatives such as the Services Directive call for single points of access and paperless application procedures for companies and services providers.  Regional / Local governments are primary deliverers of services  But do they have sufficient resources (finance, personnel, know-how)?

4. E-GOV Freie Hansestadt BremenRef. 36 – E-Government Join forces…  The “idea”: a “virtual” region  65 counties, cities and communities are members  Knowledge Exchange  Joint Projects  Acquisition of matching funds; especially from structural funds Interreg III

5. E-GOV Freie Hansestadt BremenRef. 36 – E-Government Benefits  Joint platform for public tenders  Joint platform for job offers  “location-detached” administration: local agencies can act on behalft of other jurisdictions – across state boundaries!  Common lost-and-found application  Current projects: Establish cross-agency thesaurus for service descriptions to be published on the Internet (“Wiki”- concept)  Possible joint platform for car sharing