[FYI] Developing the Information Society for European jobs

[Horns@t-online.de (Axel H. Horns)]

                    CORDIS RTD-NEWS/c European Communities, 1999. 

                    Record Control Number: 13099

                    Date: 1999-06-11

                    Category: General policy

                    General Information:

                    The job opportunities of the future will be
                    created through innovation and the Information
                    Society, according to the European Council's
                    conclusions from its meeting in Cologne on 3 and 4
                    June 1999. Meeting to discuss the major issues
                    facing the EU following the entry into force of
                    the Treaty of Amsterdam, the European Council
                    confirmed that creating jobs continues to be
                    Europe's top priority, with the European
                    Employment Pact the key instrument. 

                    The Council believes it is the Information Society
                    that will create job opportunities in the future.
                    With a budget of 15 billion euro, the Fifth
                    Framework Programme is intended to speed up the
                    process of innovation and exploit the EU's
                    potential for employment and growth to the full.
                    The more competitive Europe becomes in the high
                    technology sector, the more high-quality
                    employment opportunities will be created. 

                    For example, the development of a European
                    satellite navigation system (Galileo) should,
                    according to the European Council, be given
                    careful scrutiny, in view of its strategic
                    importance. The Council will speed up its
                    discussions on the Commission communication on the
                    system, with the aim of securing finance largely
                    from private sources. 

                    Furthermore, Europe must take a leading role in
                    the Information Society, and all schools must be
                    given access to the Internet as soon as possible.
                    In addition, the European Council emphasised the
                    importance of developing Europe's leading position
                    in electronic commerce. There must be improved
                    policy coordination to create a favourable
                    environment, and a directive, which has the
                    support of industry, must be adopted speedily. 

                    Subsequently, the European Council calls on the
                    Commission and the Member States to work together
                    with business representatives to identify the
                    obstacles to the speedy development and
                    application of information technology, and to work
                    out proposals for solving problems. In doing so,
                    the need for standardisation and deregulation
                    should be kept in mind. 

                    Data Source Provider: Council of the European
                    Union, Press Service

                    Document Reference: Based on the Presidency
                    conclusions - Cologne European Council, 3 and 4
                    June 1999.

                    Programme Acronym: FRAMEWORK 5C; IST

                    Subject Index Codes: Innovation, Technology
                    Transfer; Telecommunications; Information, Media