New Spanish eGovernment law

I was a Spanish Civil Servant from 2006 to 2012 (technically I’m still a Spanish Civil Servant on leave). I’ve worked for different branches of the Spanish Government from September 2000 to November 2012. Civil Service in Spain is reputed to be lazy among Spaniards. But having worked for all kind of employers (startups, multinationals, NGO and Government Agencies), I can say I’ve found lazy people there but I’ve also found engaged workers. In fact the laziest people weren’t in Government. And many of the most committed were.

That’s a pretty long disclaimer.

When I came to London, I knew I had to register at the Spanish Embassy. But apparently the only way to do it is physically or sending your official ID/passport using special delivery mail.

There was a similar issue with changing vehicles documentation (my car). No way to do it online.

Fortunately (I thought), there is a Spanish law that says (s6.1) you have the right to be able to apply for anything using electronic procedures (as in web, digital signature…). There is a grace period (3rd ending disposition, ss2), that ended in 2009. I know the law because I worked on those issues (in particular digital signature, but in general electronic government) from 2008 to 2012.

So I decided to formulate a complaint through Spanish Ombudsman. Initial response was highly satisfactory. They were going to ask for information to the relevant authorities.

Public Administration Department confirmed that all central government procedures (not naming any in particular) should be fully adapted to initiate online and that maybe it was a temporary issue.

Foreign Affairs Ministry replied that forms where on the web page, you can download and that was enough (no pointer to be able to use general registry that would have been at least partial adaptation). I replied that the law is clear. I must be able to do it online (specially when I can do it offline by traditional mail).

Vehicles related agency initially didn’t want to reply. And finally replied that it was related to taxes and they couldn’t check the proper address and they depended upon municipalities. They expressed that this is a common issue with people living in Spain (as in “hey, we are not law abiding agency, but it is nothing related to people living abroad”).

But what I found more disappointing (yes, even more than not enforcing the law) was the reply from the Spanish Ombudsman. After more than year asking information, they decided to close the complain because you can download the forms (again that’s not what the law says).

I’m pretty sure all the authorities implicated know what the law says. I’m pretty sure people on the Public Administration Department have tried to change their car address. They all know there should have been the required processes in place for 2010, but now they’re ashamed of it and they don’t have money to a full adaptation. What I don’t really understand is Spanish Ombudsman position, but it doesn’t really matter.

These days there is some buzz in Spain around a new law for eGovernment.

We already have a law from 2007 that is violated by the own Public Service.