The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting increased
use of digital tools can be seen as an impetus for
regional and local authorities to become fit for
the digital age. The
opinion
"Strengthening local governance and representative
democracy via new digital technology instruments"
presented by Rait Pihelgas (EE/Renew Europe),
Chairman of the Järva Municipality Council and
adopted at the CoR plenary session on 10 December
also stresses that new digital technologies and
tools have the potential to improve the quality of
decision-making and transparency, promote
communication, foster active citizenship and
engagement in political life and therefore enhance
local democracy on a permanent basis.
One of the many challenges that local and regional
authorities are facing is the transition to a new
digital world. It requires important changes and local
democracy should adapt to these changes and grasp the
opportunities associated with new digital technologies
and ICT-tools – such as using electronic forms alone
saving time for citizens and public authorities.
For CoR rapporteur Rait Pihelgas,
"Digital developments give opportunities to create
a new environment for consultation and
participation, provide high quality information,
analyse public response, extend efforts to remote
areas, reach out to the most disadvantaged
citizens, incorporate the skills, knowledge and
expertise of citizens, and “co-create” policies
according to their needs and expectations".
But going digital can be data and resource consuming
and shouldn't leave people aside. Public services offer
or citizens' participation should be founded on
non-discriminatory access to information and knowledge.
Digital divide should be narrowed by empowering people
through education and training, prioritizing training
for elderly people and other vulnerable or marginalised
groups. To this end the CoR comes up with measures to
motivate and reward local and regional authorities to
encourage them to apply the principles of open and
inclusive administration.
The committee considers the
Conference on the future of Europe
as an opportunity to test digital participatory tools
to strengthen representative democracy, gain citizens'
trust and integrate regional and municipal examples
where citizens are involved in deliberative processes
and on their feedback mechanisms. To this end, the CoR
proposed in October 2020 to develop
a digital tool called CitizEN - Citizen
Engagement in the EU Network
to involve citizens in policy-making.
"Let’s make Europe fit for the digital age; let’s
start with our local and regional authorities
first. Building on our European values and
strengths, we can reinvigorate our democracy
through this digital transformation.The use of
modern ICT and engagement might be time consuming,
but if the outcome is a more coherent society or a
transparent local government, it is worth investing
it",
Mr Pihelgas
concludes.
Contact:
Marie-Pierre Jouglain
Tel: (+32) 0473524115
mariepierre.jouglain@cor.europa.eu
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