Contextual Components of an Enterprise Architecture Framework for Pan-European eGovernment Services

Enterprise Architecture (EA) frameworks provide a wide range of architecture components. Contextual EA components provide the necessary guidance to design specific architectures in a given context e.g. for Pan-European Government Services (PEGS). Contextual EA components help to describe the background and scope of architecture work and provide a ground to tackle architecture challenges in an agreed way. The main contribution of this conceptual paper is to connect existing theoretical models as a basis to examine contextual components of an EA framework for PEGS. Three aspects are elaborated using a model-based approach: a Critical Success Factor Model, a Strategy Management Model and a Stakeholder Engagement Model. The identified models are aligned with EA standards and provide guidance to empirical research and to programs, projects and initiatives that wish to create interoperability architectures

Legal linked data ecosystems and the rule of law

This chapter introduces the notions of meta-rule of law and socio-legal ecosystems to both foster and regulate linked democracy. It explores the way of stimulating innovative regulations and building a regulatory quadrant for the rule of law. The chapter summarises briefly (i) the notions of responsive, better and smart regulation; (ii) requirements for legal interchange languages (legal interoperability); (iii) and cognitive ecology approaches. It shows how the protections of the substantive rule of law can be embedded into the semantic languages of the web of data and reflects on the conditions that make possible their enactment and implementation as a socio-legal ecosystem. The chapter suggests in the end a reusable multi-levelled meta-model and four notions of legal validity: positive, composite, formal, and ecological

Requirements for an Architecture Framework for Pan-European E-Government Services

Part 3: E-government Services and GovernanceInternational audienceInteroperability is a major challenge in providing pan-European e-government services (PEGS) across Member State (MS) borders. Improving interoperability in PEGS is expected to increase collaboration and efficiency across public administrations. Yet, a comprehensive approach to develop interoperable PEGS is still missing. Enterprise architecture (EA) is a concept used in the private sector to deal with organisational complexity, interoperability and the multifaceted challenges of information systems. We argue that EA can be used in a similar manner to foster interoperability in PEGS. This paper elicits requirements for constructing an EA framework for PEGS. The requirements are used to argue the suitability of existing EA frameworks and to propose areas of further research to build a customised architecture framework for ensuring interoperability in the design and implementation of PEGS

ENSURING SUSTAINABLE OPERATION IN COMPLEX ENVIRONMENT: THE PEPPOL PROJECT AND ITS VCD SYSTEM

To facilitate EU-wide interoperability in public eProcurement, the European Commission co-funds the PEPPOL project. PEPPOL aims at setting up pan-European pilot solutions that conjointly exist with national infrastructures. The project has several building blocks enabling seamless use of European-wide eProcurement solutions ranging from eSignatures to electronic invoices. One of the key building blocks is the Virtual Company Dossier (VCD), an electronic document container that carries attestations and candidate statements required to evidence the fulfillment of non-exclusion and selection criteria in public tendering procedures. PEPPOL will settle a set of new concepts, adopt evolving standards, involve several stakeholders, and therewith influence ways of working in electronic public procurement. As there are many stakeholders involved in the VCD project we assume that changes will occur on very frequent basis. One of the critical questions that the development of VCD is currently facing is how to govern the project results and how to ensure sustainable operation of the solutions beyond the project. From the PEPPOL perspective governance could be defined as the process to effectively operate the VCD solutions and to propose how to keep them alive after the end of the project (long-term sustainability). In this paper we introduce key elements for governance of PEPPOL solutions within and beyond the project in order to ensure long-sustainable operation in a complex environment. The VCD will be used to exemplify the overall complexity and challenges for setting up an effective governance process