Background Objectives The e Europe Action Plan Impact and Progress Outlook

1. “An Information Society for all” Background Objectives The eEurope Action Plan Impact and Progress Outlook Disclaimer: The views expressed in this presentation are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Commission R.Tirler

2. Background • History and Milestones • 8th December 1999 - Launched by R. Prodi • 10-11 December 1999 - EU Council Helsinki • 23-24 March 2000 - Special EU Council Lisbon • June 2000 - Adoption of eEurope Action Plan by the Feira EU Council • 13 March 2001 - Communication on the Impact and Priorities of the eEurope 2002 Initiative • 23-24 March 2001 - Stockholm European Summit • 15-16 June 2001 - Göteborg European Summit (Launching eEurope+ Action Plan) R.Tirler

3. Objectives • Bringing every citizen, home, school, business and administration on-line • Creating a digitally literate and entrepreneurial Europe • Ensuring a socially inclusive Information Society “EU to become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world’ “ Lisbon Summit, March 2000 R.Tirler

4. Key Goals • Accelerate Europe’s transition to the information society • Ensure greater coherence amongst EU Member States • Put the new economy at the top of the political agenda of the EU and its member countries • Reap the benefits of the new economy in terms of jobs and growth R.Tirler

5. Key requirements for success in the digital age • Powerful communication infrastructure and universal access • Digital literacy for all, advanced IT skills for more • New state of mind: vision, innovation, responsibility, entrepreneurship at all levels R.Tirler

6. Real GDP growth (%) Unemployment rate (%) 5 12 USA 10 4 EU 8 3 EU 6 2 USA 4 1 2 0 0 -1 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 Where does Europe stand? Source: European Commission, DG ECFIN R.Tirler

7. EU Internet users at home EU average: 28.4% Source: Eurobarometer (October 2000) USA- National Telecoms and Information Adm. / Economics and Statistics Adm. (August 2000) R.Tirler

8. EU Internet access prices:Too expensive, strong discrepancies Note: Internet access cost is based on a basket of prices including telephone usage charge and ISP subscription fee. Source: based on OECD figures (www.oecd.org/dsti/sti/it/cm) R.Tirler

9. Mobile users in EU countriesHigh levels, greater coherence EU average: 55.6%, Oct 2000 Source: FT Mobile Communications - October 2000 USA: Cellular Telecoms Industry Association R.Tirler

10. North America Western Europe Worldwide Internet users per 1000 People Source: Computer Industry Almanac Inc. R.Tirler

11. eEurope Action Plan • Common strategy to reinforce each other • Accelerate and complement existing actions • Common targets based on integrated action at EU and national level • Concrete measures with clear deadlines • Benchmarking of national progress R.Tirler

12. eEurope Action Plan1. Cheaper, faster, safer Internet • Competition in local communications by the end of 2000 - local loop unbundling • New integrated, simplified and fully liberalised framework for electronic communications by the end of 2001 • Internet security and privacy through e-signatures, encryption and fight against cyber-crime R.Tirler

13. eEurope Action Plan2. Investing in people and skills • Digital literacyfor all pupils: equip and connect schools, train teachers • Mend the skill gap though life-long learning • Achieve participation for all in the information society R.Tirler

14. eEurope Action Plan3. Stimulate the use of the Internet • Complete the Internal Market for e-commerce by the end of 2000 • Healthcare on-line • Intelligent Transport • Government on-line: electronic access to public services -eGovernment • Promote European contents, languages and cultures - eContent R.Tirler

15. eEurope 2002Impact on knowledge based Society (1) • Benchmarking: Cheaper, Faster, Safer Internet • Internet Penetration at Home • High Speed Internet Access • Internet Access Costs • Network Security • Benchmarking: Investing in People and Skills • Schools with Computers and Internet Connections R.Tirler

16. Internet Access in Homes R.Tirler

17. Internet Access Price Change Business use: <23%> decrease Household use: <8.6%> decrease R.Tirler

18. Schools - PC and Internet Average School: a computer for every 10 pupils; Internet-enabled computer for 22 pupils Future priority:1 PC for every 5 pupils R.Tirler

19. eEurope 2002Impact on knowledge based Society (2) • Benchmarking:Stimulate the Use of the Internet • e-Commerce • On-line Government Services (Strasbourg November 2000) R.Tirler

20. eEurope 2002Priority Areas addressed (1) • Adoption of new regulatory framework for electronic communications • High-speed Infrastructures • Broadband Internet Access in Rural Areas • Deployment of Fixed Wireless Infrastructure • Harmonised usage of Frequencies (3.5 to 40 GHz) • Digital Television with Internet Capabilities • Promotion of IPv6 through Testbeds and Industry Forum R.Tirler

21. eEurope 2002Priority Areas addressed (2) • eLearning and eWorking Skills • eCommerce • eInclusion • eGovernment • Mobile Communications R.Tirler

22. eEurope 2002Priority Areas addressed (3) • Network Security • Establishment and co-operation of CERTs • Improved co-operation on network security in the Union • Support for research and technological development • Communication on Cybercrime R.Tirler

23. eEurope - Progress (1) • Benchmarking • Enables Member States to compare their performance • Identify best practice • Provides insight into the factors of importance for widespread diffusion of digital technologies • Enables remedial action to be taken • Faster Legislation • Policy Impact • Similar Initiatives in Member States R.Tirler

24. eEurope - Progress (2) • Specific Initiatives • Smart Cards • eContent • eLearning • Research Networks • Regional Funds • .eu domain Success relies on Actions Decided upon by Member States R.Tirler

25. eEurope+An Initiative by and for Candidate Countries • Warsaw on 11-12 May 2000: European Ministerial Conference • October 2000: Joint High Level Committee on the Information Society • acceleration of the adoption of the “acquis communautaire” • The implementation of national action plans, taking account of the eEurope objectives • Awareness raising of the potential of the new economy • Promote exchange of best practice • Göteborg 15-16 June 2001: official presentation of the eEurope+ Action Plan, from the Prime Ministers of the Candidate Countries R.Tirler

26. The way ahead • Mobilisation at Member State level • Acceleration of EU law-making • Acceleration at technological level Europe is on the right track. Ultimate successdepends on each of us. R.Tirler

27. Conclusion • Links to IST Programme • Common Goals - Complementing and Reinforcing • Building on Research • eEurope Action Plan calls for widespread and pervasive Implementation of ITC-based Applications by 2002 • Different time-scales • eEurope: short term initiatives to increase the political awareness of the importance for Europe of the new economy • Present eEurope initiative ends in 2002; follow-up in FP6 needed • IST: longer time-scale to secure the technologies and competencies • For more information: • http://europa.eu.int/comm/information_society/eeurope/index_en.htm R.Tirler