Governance - France

In France, the eGovernment strategy is under responsibility of the Prime Minister and the Minister for Public Sector Transformation and the Civil Service, who is in charge of public service transformation and State modernisation. 

Élisabeth Borne Prime Minister   Source: http://www.gouvernement.fr

Stanislas Guerini Minister for Public Sector Transformation and the Civil Service   Source: http://www.gouvernement.fr

The Interministerial Digital Directorate (DINUM), which succeeded to the Interministerial Directorate for Digital Affairs and State Information and Communication System (DINSIC) in 2019, is a Prime Minister’s service, placed under the authority of the Ministry for Public Sector Transformation and the Civil Service.  

DINUM is in charge of directing, leading, supporting and coordinating public administrations’ actions aiming at enhancing the quality, efficiency and reliability of the services provided by the State's information and communication system. Furthermore, DINUM supports the Ministries’ digital transformations, secures major IT projects, advises the government and develops services and shared resources such as the Interministerial State Network (Réseau interministériel de l’État; RIE), the digital ID federator ‘FranceConnect’ and API catalogues such as api.gouv.fr. DINUM encompasses all eGovernment-related issues and plays a key role in coordinating the actions of the digital departments of Ministries. DINUM is also in charge of directing, leading, supporting, coordinating and implementing public administrations’ actions regarding interoperability activities. 

Xavier Albouy  Interministerial Digital Director   Source: https://www.numerique.gouv.fr/

The National Digital Council (Conseil National du Numérique, CNNum) is an advisory body created on 27 April 2011 by the President and consisting of thirty experts (ten members representing the digital economy, ten members from the research community and ten members taking part in the development of digital technology in society). The CNNum is tasked with advising the government on issues related to digital technology. More specifically, the CNNum is consulted for advice on ‘any proposed law or regulation that may have an impact on the digital economy, so that the government can have insight from the industry’. Nevertheless, the CNNum can also make recommendations on issues of interest without a previous request by the government. 

The French Cybersecurity Agency (Agence Nationale de la Sécurité des Systèmes d’Information, ANSSI) was established by a decree issued on 8 July 2009. The Agency is placed under the authority of the Prime Minister and is attached to the Secretary-General for Defence and National Security. ANSSI’s missions include: detection of and prompt reaction to cyber-attacks; continuous surveillance of sensitive governmental networks; implementation of appropriate defence mechanisms; prevention of threats through trusted products and services by French operators; advise and support to governmental entities and operators of critical infrastructure; and continuous information on security threats. 

The Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (DILA) is part of the Prime Minister’s Office and is placed under the authority of the Secretary General of the Government. DILA is tasked with law dissemination, public edition, and administrative information. More specifically, DILA publishes the following: the official website of the French administration; the website of law dissemination; the website of the Official Gazette of the French Republic; the website of public debate and public edition; the website of the Official Bulletin of Public Procurement Notices (Bulletin officiel des annonces des marchés publics, BOAMP); and the website of the Official Bulletin of Civil and Commercial Notices (Bulletin officiel des annonces civiles et commerciales, BODACC).

The National Commission for Informatics and Liberties (CNIL), the French Data Protection Authority, was created by the Law on Informatics and Liberties of 6 January 1978, providing a legal framework for the use of identifiers in databases and the processing of personal data by public and private sector organisations. The CNIL is an independent body in charge of overseeing the implementation of the above-mentioned Law and also has an advisory role in planning administrative data systems.  

In 2021, the Digital Transformation of Territories (TNT) programme replaced the former Concerted Development of Territorial Digital Transformation (DCANT) programme, which ended in 2020. TNT is a cooperation programme between the central government and local authorities aimed to address the challenges of digital transformation within local authorities, and also to support the development of appropriate and efficient public services. A specific governance committee was set-up to monitor the progress of the programme. Chaired by the Minister of Public Sector Transformation and the Civil Service, this political committee also involves the Minister for Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Government as well as high-level representatives of local authorities. 

The National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (ANCT) was established at the beginning of 2020 and is the result of the merger of the General Commission for Territorial Equality (CGET), Epareca and the Agency for Digital Affairs. The ANCT is a new partner for local governments, tightening links between the State and local governments to help the latter succeed in their projects. The ANCT can facilitate the implementation of various types of projects, including broadband coverage and WiFi installation in public places, and carries out various national programmes, some of which related, for instance, to digital inclusion issues.