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Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions i2010 — A European Information Society for Growth and Employment

(2006/C 192/05)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

HAVING REGARD TO the Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on i2010 — A European Information Society for Growth and Employment, COM(2005) 229 final;

HAVING REGARD TO the European Commission's decision of 1 June 2005 to request its opinion on this subject under Article 265(1) of the Treaty establishing the European Community;

HAVING REGARD TO the decision taken by its Bureau on 12 April 2005 to instruct the Commission for Culture and Education to draw up the opinion on the subject;

HAVING REGARD TO the Lisbon strategy which aims to make the European Union ‘the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world [by 2010], capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion’;

HAVING REGARD TO the appeal by the European Council in Brussels (22 and 23 March 2005) to the Commission to relaunch the Lisbon strategy without delay with economic growth and employment as the watchwords (1);

HAVING REGARD TO the Presidency Conclusions of the European Council held in Brussels on 22 and 23 March 2005 according to which ‘it is essential to build a fully inclusive information society, based on widespread use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in public services, SMEs and households. To that end, the i2010 initiative will focus on ICT research and innovation, content industry development, the security of networks and information, as well as convergence and interoperability in order to establish a seamless information area.’ (2);

HAVING REGARD TO its Opinion on the Communication from the Commission on eEurope 2005 action plan: An update (CdR 193/2004 fin) (3);

HAVING REGARD TO its Opinion on the Communication from the Commission Connecting Europe at High Speed: National Broadband Strategies (CdR 257/2004 fin) (4);

HAVING REGARD TO its Opinion on the Communication from the Commission The future of European regulatory audiovisual policy (CdR 67/2004 fin) (5);

HAVING REGARD TO its Opinion on the Communication from the Commission Science and Technology: the key to Europe's future — guidelines for future European policy to support research (CdR 194/2004 fin) (6);

HAVING REGARD TO its Outlook Opinion on The role of universities in local and regional development within the context of a Europe of knowledge (CdR 89/2003 fin) (7);

HAVING REGARD TO the opinion (CdR 252/2005 rev. 2) adopted on 7 December 2005 by the Commission for Culture and Education (rapporteur Mr Theodoros Georgakis, Mayor of Ilioupoli (EL/PES);

WHEREAS:

adopted the following opinion at its 63rd plenary session, held on 15/16 February 2006 (meeting of 16 February):

1.   Views of the Committee of the Regions

General Comments

The Committee of the Regions

As regards the Single European Information Space,

the Committee of the Regions

As regards innovation and investment in research,

the Committee of the Regions

As regards the information society for all, without social exclusions, emphasising better public services and quality of life,

the Committee of the Regions

2.   Recommendations of the Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions

Brussels, 16 February 2006

The President

of the Committee of the Regions

Michel DELEBARRE

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(1)  Presidency Conclusions, European Council held in Brussels on 22 and 23 March 2005, 7619/1/05 REV1, point 8, http://ue.eu.int:docCenter.asp.

(2)  Presidency Conclusions, European Council held in Brussels on 22 and 23 March 2005, 7619/1/05 REV1, point 18, http://ue.eu.int:docCenter.asp.

(3)OJ C 71 of 22 March 2005, p. 59.

(4)OJ C 71 of 22 March 2005, p. 55.

(5)OJ C 318 of 22 December 2004, p. 27.

(6)OJ C 71 of 12 March 2005, p. 22.

(7)OJ C 73 of 23 March 2005, p. 55.

(8)  Page 6 of the Communication.

(9)  CdR 194/2004, point 1.6 (Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on the future of European research; rapporteur: J. Myllyvirta).

(10)  It is estimated that 80 % of the content of the worldwide web has been produced in English (source: www.englishenglish.com).

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