eParticipate is a 31 month Initial Deployment eTEN follow-on from the very successful Market Validation of an eParticipation multimedia platform that was launched in the UK, Spain, Ireland and Slovakia. eParticipate provides an open integrated standard web-based network & gateway of existing “best of breed” applications (called Public-i) to enable public bodies to implement and benefit from a range of eParticipation tools to broaden the participation of citizens in the democratic process. The eParticipate methodology focuses on the need for clear, accessible, informative and transparent communication as a foundation for eParticipation. By using coherent methods to inform citizens and explain the issues, they are being equipped to get involved in local decision making. eParticipate uses this model to provide tools to support democratic renewal in three main areas (a) Transparent & accessible communication, (b) Getting representation online, and (c) Extending consultation. The core eParticipate platform centres on multimedia webcasting however in a manner which informs and encourages an engagement with a viewer. This is achieved through the inclusion of key contextual information & provision of feedback facilities combined with other communication tools such as on-line consultation. eParticipate will thus promote greater public involvement in local decision making and enhance the representative role of Local Councillors in their community through the use of ICT. Based on Market Validation results, the project has initially deployed the service to 10 very different Municipalities in 8 key EU Member States across Europe (Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, Slovakia, Spain and UK). Each Local Authority provides live and archived Internet webcasts of local Municipal meetings and other local community events. Citizens can view these broadcast on-line at any time and place and interact as they chose. A network of European and National User Groups has been established, & a series of Dissemination Workshops undertaken.

Policy Context

eParticipation can address the emerging democratic deficit across Europe in line with eTEN & eEurope eGovernment objectives. eParticipate provides an open web-based range of tools that can be used to support a programme of democratic renewal and citizen engagement. In spite of the potential of the Information Society and the huge investment in eGovernment initiatives in all Member States, there continues to be a growing democratic deficit towards all forms of Government (however particularly at a local level). ICT can enable new levels of ‘eParticipation’ to address this deficit in line with the eTEN eGovernment and i2010 objectives. This project - eParticipate - provides an open web-based solution that is proven to support encourage and enable improved democratic renewal and citizen engagement.

Description of target users and groups

Target users for the eParticiipate service are Local Authorities, while the target end-users are all European Citizens. Project partners are: National Microelectronics Applications Centre, IE; Public-i, GB; Waverley Borough Council, GB; Fingal County Council, IE; Ayuntamiento de Getafe, ES; Mesto Vrutky, SK; A.S.Partner, s.r.o, SK; Comune di Genova, IT; Commune de Elancourt, FR; Digitech, FR; Software602, a.s.CZ; Vysocina Kraj, CZ; Management System Solutions, ES; Lattanzio e Associati; IT; In-JeT ApS, DK; Odder Kommune, DK; Bristol City Council, GB; Ayuntamiento de Brunete, ES

Description of the way to implement the initiative

eParticipate is an Initial Deployment of the service to 10 Municipalities in 8 key EU Member States, as a follow-on from the very successful Market Validation of the eParticipation multimedia platform that was developed for local eGovernment in the UK. Each Local Authority is providing live and archived Internet webcasts of local Municipal meetings, and other local community events. Citizens can view these broadcast on-line at any time and interact as they choose. The project is evaluating service operation in each region and developing sustainable deployment revenue models by working with local Business Partners. The project began by setting up the consortium management structures, documenting an Initial Deployment Plan with the initial deployment procedures and operational evaluation process. This has been followed by customisation of the platform in a phased basis to the additional languages (Danish, Czech, French and Italian) in addition to the platform’s existing English, Slovakian and Spanish. The project and its Initial Deployment trials will prove the potential of the platform scale-up and customisation as a Trans-European Network. The Deployment Plans will include identification of further Business Partners to achieve a successful and sustainable trans-European deployment of the eParticipate Platform.

Technology solution

eParticipate is based on the UK service, Public-i. Its innovative aspects are the integration of “best of breed” components, and that each of the Public-i tools from which it derives, has a multimedia element which makes them immediately engaging and accessible to the public. With the vast majority of citizens choosing to view rather than read information multimedia tools such as webcasting are the best means available for communicating key messages and involving the public. The eParticipate platform uses the Public-i system and methodology which has been operational in the UK for over 4 years. The Initial Deployment to 8 Member States provides each Local Authority participant with an ongoing webcasting service comprising, Hardware / Software, Hosting and streaming of content, Project management and direct service support, Training and Technical support The ‘clever’ thing about the eParticipate platform is not the webcasting element, but that itautomatically displays critical contextual information such as speaker names, titles / affiliations, agenda items, meeting documentation, presentations and polls / surveys or consultations. The system has been specifically designed to enable Local Authorities to manage their own webcasting without the need for specialist staff or infrastructure. Technology choice: Proprietary technology

Main results, benefits and impacts

The immediate impact of the project will be on 1.9M citizens in 9 Member States across the EU, while the longer-term impact of eParticipate will be to establish the critical importance of the eParticipation services in the success of all eGovernment initiatives whilst enabling any EU Local Authority to readily implement the proven solutions based an established best practise methodology. The impact of the Trans-European deployment of the eParticipate platform will be to directly encourage Democratic Renewal & facilitate Citizen Engagement in the initial 8 local regions of the initial deployment, and eventually to 100 such regions across the EU within 2 years of its market deployment, after the end of this project. The specific benefits will be: 1.Activate Democratic Renewal and increased Citizen Engagement across Europe. - 25% increase in citizen participation in local democratic activities in 8 local authority regions across the EU. - 50 Local Authorities committed to using the service. 2.Demonstration of viable regional deployment models •Operation of a localised service in each territory •An European User Group of Local Authority Users 3.Deployment of the eParticipate service across Europe •Trans European Business & Deployment Plan •Initial Network of committed Local Business Partners

Return on investment

Return on investment: €5,000,000-10,000,000

Track record of sharing

The eParticipate Market Validation project was voted eTen funded “Project of the Year 2006"

Lessons learnt

1. eParticipation has to begin at local regional level that is most relevant to most citizens' lives. 2. To engage in their local democratic process, citizens have to understand and trust the process. 3. Video is the most immediate medium to engage people to participate in their local democracy. Scope: Local (city or municipality)