Proactive government services represent a paradigm shift in the relationship between citizens and public administration: rather than waiting for applications, authorities take the initiative and inform eligible individuals about entitlements or trigger services automatically. Prerequisites include interconnected registers, the once-only principle, and data-protection-compliant data use. Typical examples include automatic child benefit payments following birth registration or pension entitlement notifications. Proactive services increase uptake of social benefits, reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen public trust in government. Data protection concerns and the need for clear legal bases for inter-agency data sharing are critically discussed aspects.