OVIDE and teledemocracy

Abstract

Teledemocracy is a concept which has emerged over the last ten years. It is concerned with furthering the demo cratic process through the aid of modern information technology. This article describes the particular goals and experiences of the OVIDE system in the context of teledemocracy. OVIDE is a European-wide communica tion and information system installed by the European Parliament primarily to help the elected Members of the Parliament and permanent staff in their work. A key factor in the OVIDE concept, however, has been its potential to bridge the gap between the citizen and the complex processes of decision-making in the develop ment of the European Union. Examples are given of the ways in which concrete efforts have been made to use OVIDE in order to help to fill this information gap and encourage the citizen to come closer to the policy-making framework within which the future of the European Union is being forged.