1. Recommendations for Observing the Horizontal Priority “Information Society” in Selection and Appraisal of Project Applications for EU Funds Viesturs Krievāns Head of Secretariat of the Minister for Special Assignments for Electronic Government Affairs 6 February 2008

2. Essence of Horizontal Priority “Information Society”  Today’s information and communications technologies have turned the world into a place providing opportunities to receive and send information, communicate, and broadcast on global scale – development of such a society is a priority for every country.  ICT embrace all sectors of economy and the whole society. Therefore it is essential to create a coordinated information society strategy, as information society allows connecting sectors and ensuring balance based on participation and needs of all involved parties. 6 February 2008

3. Information Society Key elements:  Availability of information  Ability to use information 6 February 2008

4. Impact of a Project on Development of Information Society  A project may be targeted towards development of information society – it may envisage activities promoting the creation and development of information society.  A project may be neutral with regard to development of information society – it may not envisage activities promoting development of information society, but at least the activities will not negatively affect development of information society. 6 February 2008

5. Project Information  If and how will the project facilitate the development of information society?  Inclusion of which target group in information society will be promoted within the framework of the project?  Will the project improve access to information and communications infrastructure, technologies, as well as information and knowledge?  Will the project improve contents of information?  What indicators can be used to assess the impact of the project on development of information society? 6 February 2008

6. Applying Criteria  It is necessary to prepare such criteria for assessing quality of project applications that are best suited for assessing whether project applications comply with the horizontal priority in the respective activity/sub-activity.  Compliance with the criteria of the horizontal priority shall be rewarded by granting a higher score/additional points. 6 February 2008

7. Information Society Development Indicators Technology basis (infrastructure, software)  Number of communications networks created/improved within the framework of a project of EU Funds.  Number of information systems created/improved within the framework of a project of EU Funds.  Number of computers purchased within the framework of a project of EU Funds. 6 February 2008

8. Information Society Development Indicators Range of information services available to the society  Number of public services made electronic within the framework of a project of EU Funds.  Level of electronization of existing public services increased within the framework of a project of EU Funds. Level of skills and knowledge of individuals  Number of people trained on ICT within the framework of a project of EU Funds 6 February 2008

9. Example A project envisages creation of a tourism information system which will help create a new electronic service and increase the level of two already existing electronic services, and it is also planned to train five system administrators on running the system. The project application is assessed according to all administrative, eligibility and quality criteria. Compliance with the horizontal priority “Information Society” is assessed according to quality assessment criteria envisaged for it. 6 February 2008

10. Example 6 February 2008 Criterion Possible scores Score Whether the project envisages creation/improvement of an information system: The project does not envisage creation of an information system. The project envisages improvement of an existing information system or creation of a new system. 0202 2 Whether the project envisages creation/improvement of electronic services: The project does not envisage creation of new electronic services or improvement of the level of electronization of an existing service. The project envisages creation of 1-2 new electronic services or increasing the level of electronization of 1-2 existing services. The project envisages creation of at least 3 new electronic services or increasing the level of electronization of at least 3 existing services. 026026 6

11. Example Criterion Possible score Score Whether the project envisages training of people on working with information & communications technologies:  The project does not envisage training of people on working with computer technologies.  The project envisages training of up to 10 people on working with computer technologies.  The project envisages training more than 10 people on working with computer technologies. 024024 2 6 February 2008

12. Thank you! 6 February 2008