The joint National E-Government Strategy of the federal, state and local governments is sensitive to the economic, social and technological developments which have a great influence on tomorrow’s public administration. This strategy consciously relies on the principles of federalism, the division of powers, subsidiarity, local self-government and the principle of concomitant financing, and supports close and trusting cooperation across all levels of public administration. Concerns of individuals and businesses often involve jurisdiction of authorities at several levels of government. This is why rules are needed on cooperation between different levels of government which also comply with these principles and with Article 91 c of the Basic Law.
In this way, the National E-Government Strategy follows the European Union’s Malmö Declaration of 18 November 2009.5 The priorities set there can also be found in Germany’s e-government strategy, which thus respects the areas of responsibility of those involved, strengthens their joint orientation and provides the basis for specific planning, especially with regard to the State Treaty on IT, of further e-government areas and IT strategies of the federal, state and local governments.