Open Standards in State IT Systems: Quo Vadis?

Abstract

Following the free/open software movement, the Open Standards Law established the adoption of open standards for information in digital format within Public Administration, aiming to promote technological freedom for citizens and organizations, as well as interoperability of State IT systems. However, due to the overarching strategic plan for rationalization and cost reduction of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Public Administration, approved in compliance with the Economic and Financial Assistance Program (PAEF), open standards will only be adopted by the public sector if they prove to be the most economically advantageous solution for the State. This relegates the technological freedom of citizens and public bodies’and the transparency requirements of the technological architecture of e-Governance to a secondary position. Furthermore, due to the failure to develop the Digital Interoperability Regulation, the invalidity of public procurement acts by Public Administration that exclude open standards remains incomplete.