The danger of creating a subsidy mentality by starting information society activities only in response to a government initiative and by public funding has to be confined. In order to attract a higher business commitment in information society projects, governments should develop direct and indirect means to create a more favourable environment for attracting private sector investment. With numerous activities as described in the Action Plan, the objective of increasing political awareness on information society issues in the CEECs has been largely achieved. However it has to be recognised that the CEECs are still significantly behind EU-member states in promoting and implementing the information society. It is still important to continue with pilot actions that raise awareness in CEECs and to publicise successful national and international projects.
Public awareness is low.
What they face presently are sets of usually unrelated activities and projects in different areas. CEEC governments should actively promote and support real actions with well-defined objectives in all relevant sectors, committing national funds to this objective. Therefore important opportunities and flexibility of private financing is not utilised. Because the high costs of network access in all CEECs, specific EU support would be highly beneficial, as expressed in the Tartu declaration. CEECs governments and public administrations implement information and telecommunication technology quite extensively and efficiently in some areas that are basic to their functioning.