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"Berlin Declaration” sets roadmap for Digital Society and Digital Government

Mr Ossian Smyth TD Minister of State with responsibility for Public Procurement and eGovernment at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, signed the 'Berlin Declaration on Digital Society and Value-Based Digital Government' at a High-Level Conference on a Value-Based Digital Transformation which took place on 8 December 2020. The conference was organised by the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

The Berlin Declaration, agreed by the European Ministers responsible for digitalisation of the public sector, aims to contribute to a value-based digital transformation by addressing and ultimately strengthening digital participation and digital inclusion in our societies.

The Declaration notes that by ensuring that digital transformation is based on strong common democratic and ethical values and a series of identified principles, advantage can be taken of new technologies for the common good.

The Declaration is consistent with the direction that Ireland wishes to pursue in relation to digital government and relevant elements from the Declaration will be addressed in work underway on a new digital strategy for the Public Service.

Speaking at the conference, Minister of State Smyth said:
“I am very pleased to be signing the Berlin Declaration on behalf of Ireland today and acknowledge the importance of each of the principles and policy areas called out in the Declaration to advancing digital transformation.

"It is important that we enable all of our people to engage digitally with public and other services and ensure that no-one who wants to participate is left behind.

“I also strongly support the ambition in the Declaration that digital transformation in Europe needs to be closely aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement as well as the goals of the European Green Deal.”

Speaking at the event, European Commission Executive Vice-President Margrethe Vestager said:
“The Berlin Declaration stands for the European way of digital - based on common values and making sure technology improves our quality of life. I welcome this strong partnership and look forward to working hand-in-hand to turn the digitalisation of the public sector into a reality that serves businesses and people.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors: 

The 'Berlin Declaration on Digital Society and Value-Based Digital Government’ was being signed at a High-Level Conference on a Value-Based Digital Transformation that took place on 8 December 2020. The conference was organised by the German Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Building on the 2017 Tallinn Declaration on eGovernment which created the framework for successful digital transformation of public administrations in Europe, the Berlin Declaration sets out the following principles on which digital transformation should be based:
• Validity and respect of fundamental rights and democratic values
• Social participation and digital inclusion to shape the digital world
• Empowerment and digital literacy
• Trust and security in digital government interactions
• Digital sovereignty and interoperability
• Human-centred systems and innovative technologies in the public sector
• Towards a resilient and sustainable digital society

Each principle is supported by a series of policy actions.

All member states commit to take steps - and call on the European Commission and other EU institutions for support - to implement and monitor progress. The aims of the Declaration resonate with plans for digital transformation in Ireland and work underway on the replacement for the 2015 Public Service ICT Strategy, due for publication in early 2021.
The Berlin Declaration is the result of the close cooperation between the German Presidency of the Council of the EU, European Commission services and the European Union informal network of Chief Information Officers (CIOs).
The full text of the Berlin Declaration is available for download here.