CEE e|Dem and e|Gov Days 2017

The times are gone, when the digital divide used to be an economic matter between “haves” and “have nots” or a divide in technological skill. Internet penetration rates in the Danube Region are converging and moving towards 80-90%. However, internet access, for instance on the mobile phone, does not mean that the internet is used for much more than reading the news. The true potential of the internet can only be harnessed by interactive and transactional services, whether in eGovernment or eParticipation: Transactional eGovernment services are a main driver of administrative reform and cost efficiency; the usage of social media and eDemocracy platforms promotes social cohesion and civic engagement. Via the digital media, everybody can talk to the world – at least in theory. Having access to the editor function of a social media or participation platform in a web browser via an internet connection at an affordable monthly flat rate, however, does not by a long shot mean that one can also express one’s opinion in a convincing way. Hence, there may be a new digital divide about being able or not being able to express oneself in the internet media. This year’s "Central and Eastern European eGovernment & eDemocracy Days" aim to explore to what extent and in what regard the Danube Region is digitally divided, what the driving forces of these divisions are and what factors determine them. Understanding the digital divide is pivotal to promote cohesion in the Danube Region and to design effective policies to enhance regional integration.