Multi-level governance is a new model of a transparent and open policy-making process respecting the complexities of multi-tier territorial entities; it has been officially adopted by the Committee of the Regions in its Multi-level Governance Charta in the European Union. The concept, however, has attracted attention beyond the EU as it emphasizes the principles of self-governance, subsidiarity and proportionality. Nearly every state, whether inside or outside the EU, is in a situation that lends itself to principles of multi-level governance. This however requires horizontal and vertical coordination among policy actors as well as the involvement of citizens, civil society and the business community. Within the EU, this new model of engagement and participation can help overcome the wide-spread distance between citizens and the Union as well as the general feeling of disenchantment with politics among citizens.

It is the main theme of this year’s conference to explore how ICT can act as an enabler for these governance models. How can IT contribute to that goal? What are the chances and the risks of the use of ICT to promote a European system of Multi-Level eGovernance? What are best practices which could serve as a model for the development of such a system?

This conference addresses public sector practitioners and policy makers, industry professionals and academia alike. The disciplines covered are primarily information sciences, law and administrative science, political science, sociology and economics. Theoretical and empirical contributions are equally welcome. We especially encourage submissions addressing the European Union in general, the Danube Region and the Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Beyond the general theme papers are solicited in all areas of applying ICT to the Public Sector. The conference will particularly focus on, but not limit itself to, the following topics:

• Identity management for individuals,
• Privacy and data protection (including Cyber Security),
• eDemocracy on all levels (e.g., new forms of citizen participation, internet in political campaigns, eVoting),
• The role of the internet in revolutions and in transition processes,
• Transparency and anti-corruption
• eTools to help establish a European public space,
• Open data,
• Legal aspects of eGovernment and eDemocracy,
• Economic and social impact of eGovernment and eDemocracy,
• Smart cities.

The conference language will be English only. Papers will be subjected to a double-blind review process and published by the Austrian Computer Society.

Organizers

• Andrássy University Budapest (AUB)
• Austrian Computer Society (OCG)
• Austrian Federal Chancellery/Institute for State Organization and Administrative Reform
• Austrian Institute for European Law and Policy (AIELP)
• GoForeSight Institute, Ljubljana
• National University of Public Service Budapest (NUPS)
• University of Public Administration and Finance Ludwigsburg (HVF)

Since 2015, the EDEM conference series, organized by OCG since 2007, has joined forces with the CEEeGov Days and strengthens the fields of citizen participation and digital democracy within the conference.

Workshops

As was the case in 2015, there will be a number of workshops within the conference. Lauder Business School, Vienna, the GoForeSight Institute, Ljubljana and Chuo University, Tokyo will jointly organise a Workshop on Smart Cities, for details see the separate Call for Papers.

Timeline and organisation

A two-stage selection process is to apply:

• Oct 31, 2015: Abstract submission (approx. 200 words), abstracts not reviewed but checked whether they are in scope
• Nov 15, 2015: Notification of whether the abstract is in scope combined with the invitation to submit the full conference paper
• Jan 7, 2016: Paper submission (max. 10 pages), double blind full paper review according to scientific standards
• Feb 15, 2016: Reviews out (including notification whether the paper is eligible for the Special Edition of TGGP)
• March 14, 2016: “Camera-ready” papers due (standard OCG format available)
• May 9, 2016: Volume available
• May 12-13, 2016: Conference

More information is available at the conference website.