The Intricate Dance of Digital Transformation: A Study of EU Parliament's Modernisation
About the EU Parliament. Written on September, 2021
Introduction
The transition of traditional systems into digitalised counterparts signifies an era of digital transformation. No less a part of this transformation is the European Union Parliament, the legislative body of the EU. Integral to this process are the archival systems, which have been observed to be drivers of legislative modernisation. This paper examines the nuances of this transformation process, the role of the archivist, the challenges faced, the use of data standardisation and their implications for legislative data integrity.
The Role of the Archivist and Modernisation
At the core of the EU Parliament’s digital transformation lies the role of the archivist. With the increasing recognition of archival systems as a central service, archivists hold a transversal support position in legislative bodies, given their vantage point that allows them an overview of all activities. However, the power to drive change is somewhat limited. While archivists can provide recommendations, for instance, on how a transfer should be done or what types of documents and formats should be received, the actual implementation of these recommendations is not solely in their hands.
An archivist's responsibilities extend beyond mere data storage, towards maintaining data integrity. This is achieved through the establishment of detailed inventories prior to transfers, thus ensuring accessibility and traceability of archives. However, due to limited personnel and resources, the current archival systems face challenges in treating and managing vast amounts of incoming data.
Significance of Data Standardisation
The importance of data standardisation in the archival process cannot be overstressed. It provides a consistent way to deal with varying data formats, thereby reducing ambiguity and increasing efficiency. It ensures the consistency of data received from various legislative sources and plays a vital role in maintaining the integrity of legislative documents.
Standards such as the Akoma Ntoso Legal Document Standard play an important role in the process. However, its implementation in archives has its limitations as the EU Parliament archival systems primarily deal with consolidated, adopted texts and associated documents. The Akoma Ntoso Standard is especially useful in building a bill, but its benefits in archival systems are yet to be fully realised.
Future Prospects and Conclusion
Looking forward, the future of archival systems in the EU Parliament is promising. With the increased incorporation of digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence, there is an expectation to streamline and automate archival processes, ensuring enhanced accessibility and improved understanding of legislative data for historians and citizens.
This process of modernisation, however, is not without its challenges. Although there are standards to guide the transformation, the intricate dance of digitalisation is complex, requiring the harmonisation of technology, data integrity, and human capacity. As the EU Parliament embraces these challenges in its journey of transformation, the hope is to enable greater public engagement, transparency, and a deeper understanding of the democratic processes.
In conclusion, the modernisation of the EU Parliament’s archival systems is a testament to the power and inevitability of digital transformation. While the journey is far from over, the direction is clear and promising. The role of the archivist, the power of data standardisation, and the opportunities provided by emerging technologies all play pivotal roles in this ongoing transformation.