LEFIS Publications

The JILT issue 2&3 2005 presents several papers originated in the LEFIS Vilnius Workshop on Legal Aspects of E-Government from September 2003.

On the other hand, the International Review of Law, Computers & Technology, published by Routledge, a part of the Taylor & Francis Group, has edited the Issue: Volume 19, Number 3 / November 2005, Special Issue: Developing Theory in Legal Technology. The papers were presented initially in the Belfast LEFIS Workshop Lessig’s Code: lessons for Legal Education From the Frontiers of IT Law, July 2004.

"Interoperability between national administrations for pan-European eGovernment services"

According to the EU Press Room, "A Swedish / Italian couple needs to fill in and provide dozens of papers to get married because the administrations of both countries cannot communicate electronically. Not only lovers are concerned. Heaps of paper must be piled up when it comes to setting up a company, paying taxes, transferring social insurance rights or participating in procurement activities in another Member State. A new Commission communication calls for interoperability among all national and regional administrations in the EU. EGovernment at a pan-European level will remove administrative barriers and facilitate the free movement of businesses and citizens within the internal market. Modern public administration has to be built upon digital services together with streamlined eGovernment processes."

This Press Release is available in full text.

"Intelligent cars: life-saving technologies need stronger support by industry and policy-makers, says Commission"

As stated by the EU Press Room, "Technology that prevents rear-end collisions could eliminate 4,000 accidents per year across the EU if just 3% of cars had it by 2010. Technology that helps you stay in lane, or to overtake, could prevent 1,500 accidents per year if only 0.6% of cars had it by 2010. And technology that wakens drowsy drivers could help prevent 30% of fatal motorway crashes and 9% of all fatal accidents. So says the European Commission, in a new drive to accelerate car buyers’ take-up of smarter, safer and cleaner technologies, launched today."

This Press Release is available in full text.

"Safer Internet Day 2006: EU stresses commitment to safer use of the Internet"

According to the EU Press Room, "Today, Safer Internet Day will be celebrated by 95 organisations in 36 countries across the world, including 24 EU countries, Russia, Argentina, New Zealand and the USA. Organised under the patronage of Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding, Safer Internet Day 2006, features a blogathon or “blog-marathon” during which wide range of organisations and special guests will promote internet safety by making postings and inviting comments from visitors, children, schools and parents. The geographical focus of the 24hr blog will move steadily westwards through the global time zones, and include content in different languages."

This Press Release is available in full text.

International Electronic Government Observatory

The fundamental objective of the eGobs Observatory (Electronic Government Observatory) is the independent study of the characteristics and activities of Electronic Government. E Government is understood as the organizations and systems that are necessary to the Administrations to fulfill their obligations to citizens and companies with the aid of the resources provided by the Information and Communication Technologies. Our research puts a special emphasis in the confirmation, through the study of real cases, that those activities are carried out with respect to the rules, procedures and principles stated in the Law, included the right to participation of citizens, companies and institutions and, especially, if the regulations on personal data protection and security of the electronic communications are effectively applied.
EGOBS is an initiative of the Network on Electronic Government coordinated from 2003 by the University of Zaragoza and in whose activities participate the Universities of Burgos and Valladolid (Spain), the University of Münster (Germany) and the Queen's University of Belfast (United Kingdon), for European part. Our American members are the National University of la Plata (Argentina), the Diego Portales University of Santiago de Chile, the University of the Havana (Cuba) and the University of the Republic of Montevideo (Uruguay). The Association for the Promotion of the Technologies of the Information and the Electronic Trade (APTICE) also collaborates to the activities of the Observatory. The Observatory is part of the Legal Framework for the Information Society (LEFIS).

"ICT's role crucial for the achievement of the Lisbon strategy"

As stated by the EU Press Room, "Vice-President Siim Kallas is undergoing a three-day visit to Portugal dedicated to the crucial role of ICT in the achievement of the Lisbon goals, a few days after the Commission adopted its contribution on the revised Lisbon strategy to the Spring European Council.
During his visit, Commissioner Kallas reiterated the importance of the role of information and communication technologies (ICT) in this field for both the private and the public sectors. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Commission to lead by example by applying to its own administration the European e-government policy that member states adopted within the i2010 strategy. In-depth discussions on the issues of transparency, security and interoperability in relation to e-government practices were held in a meeting with Eastern European ministers as well as with the ministers of ICT and education of the 25 member states, during the Microsoft Global Leaders Forum session, and in a meeting with Bill Gates, President of Microsoft."

This Press Release is available in full text.