Article Preview
Top1. Introduction
The conditions of sustainability are the cornerstone on which to build a Sustainability Empowerment strategy (Cesaretti, 2014; Cesaretti et al., 2015). In terms of sustainable development, by definition it is ‘development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs’, in other words, should be taken the fact that the actions that we take now must not adversely affect the possibilities of future generations (UNWCED, 1987; Oprea et al., 2015). Regional economic integration institutions, such as the European Union, have become more and more consolidated like real territorial reservoirs in which to activate the required dynamics for the pursuit of global goals (Cesaretti et al., 2014).
The environmental governance and the management issues related to decisions, which verify performance, have also gained a continuously growing focus. Governance constitutes a distinct policy regarding management issues and designates processes focusing on decision making. At the same time, governance indicates the total sum of given and anticipated mechanisms, too. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have become the means to make government more accountable, transparent and effective. ICT are key elements supporting the growth of electronic governance (e-governance) initiatives and projects (Andreopoulou et al, 2011).
Electronic government (e-government) has been defined as “the use of ICT, and particularly the internet, as a tool to achieve better government” (OECD, 2003). In Europe, governments are under intense and sustained pressures to remain competitive on a global level, in responding to a variety of now well-known and profound challenges, such as: demographic change, environmental impacts, natural resource shortfalls, social cohesion and worrisome waste streams (European Union, 2013a). Considering that state and local governments need to provide better public services with fewer resources, they have started using Web 2.0 tools and applications. Nevertheless, very few of these governments have established a clear interaction strategy (Sandoval-Almazan & Gil-Garcia, 2012).
ICT are now a major part of Europe’s economic growth strategy (European Union, 2013b). These modern technologies present very substantial opportunities for us to advance in all areas. They can help to enhance the quality of life of the elderly; make things very much easier for the operation of businesses; help citizens participate in the governance of their community; enable living, working, studying across borders (European Union, 2013c). Furthermore, by using ICT infrastructure, companies can achieve higher productivity, economic growth, national competitiveness and efficiencies in the public (Koliouska and Andreopoulou, 2013). The provision of long distance services is possible through internet technologies such as internet (Andreopoulou et al., 2014). Some of the most common web-based products of the suite of electronic services (e-services) are electronic learning (e-learning), electronic working (e-working), electronic banking (e-banking), electronic voting (e-voting), e-government, electronic commerce (e-commerce), electronic shop (e-shop), electronic research (e-research), electronic medicine (e-medicine) and electronic payment (e-payment) (Andreopoulou, 2012).