Opinion of the Economic and Social Committee on the "Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions - Helping SMEs to 'Go Digital'"

(2002/C 80/15)

On 22 March 2001 the Commission decided, under Article 262 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to consult the Economic and Social Committee on the above-mentioned communication.

The Section for the Single Market, Production and Consumption, which was responsible for preparing the Committee's work on the subject, adopted its opinion on 17 December 2001. The rapporteur was Mr Dimitriadis.

At its 387th plenary session (meeting of 16 January 2002), the Economic and Social Committee adopted the following opinion by 92 votes in favour with three abstentions.

General comment on the Communication

The Communication "Helping SMEs to 'Go Digital'" is an attempt by the Commission to give the necessary impetus to the Action Plan on eEurope 2002 and to speed up the implementation of programmes to assist SMEs in starting to trade through the Internet.

The document seeks to combine all the EU actions relating to electronic entrepreneurship and registers the intention of both the Commission and the Member States to intensify their efforts in this connection.

1. Introduction

1.1. After the Commission Communication on "eEurope - An Information Society for all"(1) presented in December 1999 and the preparation of the Action Plan on Electronic Europe - eEurope 2002 Information Society for all, adopted by the European Council meeting in Santa Maria de Feira (19-20 June 2000)(2), the Commission issued the Communication "Helping SMEs to 'Go Digital'"(3).

2. Main points of the Commission document

2.1. The Action Plan's objective three entitled "Stimulate the use of the Internet" includes an action to encourage SMEs to "Go Digital" because they play an important role in efforts to bring about eEurope.

2.2. The objective of this Communication is to identify the specific SME needs to fully reap the benefits of e-business and to present specific GoDigital initiatives to be implemented in 2001 by the Commission. Further actions will be taken at a later stage.

2.3. The Communication set out the following main objectives:

a) identifying the main obstacles SMEs face as they engage in e-business;

b) proposing specific actions to help SMEs "Go Digital", in particular by building on existing policies and initiatives;

c) ensuring consistency and accessibility among the various policies and initiatives to support SMEs going digital at the European, national, regional and local levels;

d) learning from practical experience and benchmarking various strategies to help SMEs to go digital.

2.4. GoDigital can help create better conditions for SMEs to enter into the digital age, but it cannot replace entrepreneurship or the enterprise that ultimately takes the decision.

2.5. In three Action Lines, the following 10 specific actions are proposed, giving the aim, implementation arrangements and responsibilities for each:

- benchmarking of national and regional strategies in support of e-business;

- measuring of take-up of ICT and e-business;

- improved access to information and the collation of feedback for policymaking purposes in the area of electronic commerce legislation;

- electronic business interoperability;

- promoting awareness for going digital;

- electronic commerce take-up;

- provision of a loan guarantee facility for SMEs;

- promoting better use of Structural Funds;

- supporting industry-led initiatives for new ICT curricula;

- creating an ICT skills monitoring group with Member States.

3. General comments

3.1. The ESC believes that e-commerce is in a critical period of its development, now that the expectations raised worldwide, and particularly in the USA, in recent years have been disappointed - abruptly in a large number of cases.

In the changed new situation, the ESC recognises that:

a) e-commerce at the B2B (Business to Business) level is the kind of activity which will in the end create new conditions in entrepreneurship and provide a new, wholly diversified environment for enterprises;

b) it is not at present certain in what direction B2C (Business to Consumer) e-commerce will lead and exactly what prospects it has, in the light of experience acquired in the USA, or how consumers will react in future;

c) businessmen are obliged to monitor developments, inform themselves about activities in the sphere of technology and modernise their firms by using the necessary IT tools;

d) owners of SMEs ought to take note of the signals of the times, overcome unjustified fears and traditional, conservative attitudes, and allocate the necessary material and human resources to modernising their firms;

e) e-commerce and the use of the Internet are not fully applied in all SMEs, apart from in those belonging to sectors which (a) are international in nature, (b) are easy for consumers to access electronically, (c) meet specific needs which are easy to foresee, or (d) have or can set up the structures and infrastructures to operate in an international environment;

f) the European Union, because of the delays which have occurred, has the opportunity to study in a more rational and practical way the problems arising from the development of e-commerce and of new technologies and to develop suitable strategic actions.

3.2. The ESC takes the view that most of the "Go Digital" actions are orientated in the right direction, but the deadlines are particularly time-consuming. This means that they would not reduce the existing disparities between European SMEs and SMEs in other countries.

3.3. The ESC believes that the Communication does not sufficiently reflect the urgent and pressing nature of the problems facing SMEs in connection with digital technology.

3.4. The ESC, taking into account the development of e-commerce worldwide, feels that a significant proportion of European SMEs, which have the prerequisites, have not yet adopted the Internet to the necessary extent(4), and have not understood the prospects opened up by its well-planned and well-considered use. There is therefore an evident risk of a widening of the technological gap which exists between European SMEs on the one hand and American and South East Asian SMEs on the other, probably with the result of excluding the European SMEs from international competition.

3.4.1. The ESC acknowledges that in certain Member States serious efforts are made by governments to increase the use of new technology by SMEs.

3.5. The ESC thinks that the Commission's conclusion - that general ignorance of electronic commerce is a thing of the past - does not accurately reflect the situation. Experience shows that, although significant steps have been taken, in a large proportion of SMEs there is total ignorance which often leads to rejection of information. Coordinated national and European efforts are needed to remedy this.

3.6. The ESC believes that SMEs do not have the necessary information or training to understand and accept e-commerce solutions, which require skills not provided in the past by the education system(5). The ESC acknowledges that training middle-aged people (e.g. through lifelong learning) who have a heavy workload and the responsibility of running a firm constitutes a particularly difficult task.

3.7. The ESC believes that the scarcity of serious, updated European funding discourages the adoption of e-commerce solutions; where the funding exists, there is a lack of proper planning and rational use of resources.

3.8. The ESC thinks that a particularly decisive factor for the adoption of e-commerce solutions by SMEs would be the creation of a mechanism for guaranteeing loans to SMEs either on a personal or on a company basis and for promoting better use of the Structural Funds.

3.9. The ESC believes that a small proportion of European SMEs have understood the great change which has occurred in international markets as a result of liberalisation of international trade and the removal of substantial barriers to the movement of services and products.

3.10. The ESC does not agree that the present institutional, legal and general regulatory framework adequately serves SMEs' e-commerce at the national, European and international levels. It does believe there is an urgent need for completion of the international dialogue to define an acceptable regulatory framework worldwide which will provide the necessary security for e-commerce.

3.11. The ESC agrees that the digital economy creates a constantly rising demand for ICT specialists. The rapid rise in this demand has resulted in a shortage of such specialists, which in turn impedes the use of experts by SMEs, because they are always in demand with large firms which can offer higher salaries and benefits. The ESC takes the view that this problem has taken on alarming proportions and will undoubtedly influence the development of technology in the EU.

3.12. The ESC believes that the cost of creating a strong name on the Internet (e-Brand) is very high(6) - too high for SMEs, although they need this in order to become internationally known.

3.13. The ESC feels that despite the fact that the necessary technological equipment does not require large amounts of capital, many SMEs are unable or unwilling to spend the necessary amounts, because they have not yet received the necessary hints from consumers which would convince them of its immediate usefulness.

3.14. The ESC thinks that ideas such as creating a special website to present all ideas relevant to the Go Digital plan are initiatives which reach a very small number of SMEs and often give rise to the feeling that the Commission does not take note in good time of indications of the situation in which European SMEs find themselves.

3.15. The ESC thinks it necessary for e-commerce and the new technologies to be used by public administrations ("e-Government") as these bodies can use them to motivate SMEs to adopt them(7)(8)(9).

3.16. The ESC agrees that the use of the Internet as a new entrepreneurial tool needs special encouragement, in enterprises which have the opportunity to enter into e-commerce.

3.17. Because of the universality of the Internet, the actions must contribute to creating synergistic effects.

3.18. The ESC thinks it necessary to have adequate, correct and up-to-date comparative data for assessment of the actions as well as for measurement of the development of know-how and the SMEs' absorption of know-how.

3.19. Standardisation is needed to promote interoperable electronic business solutions. The ESC believes that this is particularly difficult to achieve in practice because of the plethora of technology, software and suppliers(10).

3.20. For the transition to the digital age the ESC agrees that certain bodies, such as chambers of commerce, representative organisations etc., can and must play an important role in raising the awareness of SMEs.

3.21. The ESC believes that workers in SMEs have a critical role to play in implementing e-commerce. SMEs have an immediate need for workers with the necessary training in informatics to enable them to adapt to the necessary changes. It is therefore necessary to create special training programmes covering all these workers in order to create these skills(11).

3.22. The ESC takes the view that the lifelong acquisition of new skills(12) and necessary qualifications by all workers is the necessary condition for filling these posts but also for creating new permanent posts in the digital economy.

3.23. The ESC agrees that SMEs need the support of consultancy and legal advice firms(13).

3.23.1. The ESC maintains that electronic commerce requires staff with a high level of technological knowledge. The paradox in this case is that while there are many courses for computer technicians and programmers, there are no corresponding courses for SME employees. Their training is generally limited to learning about administrative tools and methods, communication skills and staff management. The training is sporadic and imparted mainly through conferences and seminars.

3.24. The ESC disagrees with the Commission's conclusion that the current regulatory environment adequately serves e-commerce at national level, while problems are likely to arise when SMEs develop e-commerce activities in cross-border trade. The nature of e-commerce is international and calls for an international regulatory environment which will protect the consumer, who is particularly vulnerable, but will also protect the firm. The ESC totally agrees with the view expressed in the eEurope Declaration adopted at the Warsaw Ministerial Conference (11-12 May 2001) on the need for international cooperation on the regulatory/legal environment for e-commerce(14).

3.25. The ESC feels that the highly conservative spirit and the lack of the relevant culture which characterise a very large number of SMEs are a very serious factor delaying and limiting efforts and actions for which there is a pressing need.

3.26. The ESC takes the view that in many cases the SMEs themselves also bear some responsibility, as they react very slowly to the challenges of the new age or do not react at all, despite the fact that an entrepreneur ought always to be highly alert and flexible. Changing the organisational structures of an SME is a necessary precondition for its modernisation and its development as part of the new economy.

4. Specific comments

4.1. Action Line 1: Favourable environment for electronic business and entrepreneurship

4.1.1. Action 1: Benchmarking of national and regional strategies in support of e-business

4.1.1.1. The aim of Action 1 is the description and comparative evaluation of national and regional policies and means which have been developed to promote e-business in SMEs; this aim is to be achieved through comparative assessment of national and regional strategies in the sector of ICT and e-business.

4.1.1.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC endorses Action 1 but has doubts about the timescale set by the Commission, while it is sceptical about the chances of achieving this aim through the BEST 2001 Programme, as it is well known that many public authorities (particularly at regional level) are characterised by counter-productive, time-consuming bureaucratic modes of operation.

4.1.2. Action 2: measuring of take-up of ICT and e-business:

4.1.2.1. The aim of Action 2 is the development of a comprehensive Go Digital scoreboard for measuring the take-up of ICT and e-business by SMEs in the Member States. Work on Action 2 is entrusted to DG Enterprise which will develop and regularly publish a Go Digital "scoreboard".

4.1.2.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC regards Action 2 as a useful additional comparative tool, which for the moment has little practical value for the SMEs themselves.

4.1.3. Action 3: improving access to information and collecting feedback for policy-making purposes in the area of electronic commerce legislation:

4.1.3.1. The objective of Action 3 is to provide SMEs with relevant and user-friendly information and advice on legal and regulatory issues of e-commerce.

4.1.3.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC takes the view that Action 3, for all its good intentions, will not make a considerable contribution to promoting e-commerce in SMEs. So far a relatively small number of SMEs use the Internet to transfer their experience or to obtain information on the regulatory and legislative environment.

4.1.3.1.2. Comment 2: Action 3 has the right objectives, but needs support for its practical implementation.

4.1.4. Action 4: electronic business interoperability

4.1.4.1. The objective of Action 4 is to promote interoperable electronic business solutions through European standardisation and consensus building at the European level; this is an exceptionally vital action which is bound to assist the more rapid and more reliable use of electronic business(15).

4.1.4.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC takes the view that the European Commission's responsibility for Action 4 is very significant.

4.1.4.1.2. Comment 2: the ESC feels that this action can only be realised to the extent that there is substantive joint decision-making and commitment on the part of the industrial organisations and the large technological industries, which will need to be convinced of the considerable benefits of interoperable solutions and will need to cooperate in solutions of this kind.

4.1.4.1.3. Comment 3: the ESC regards the timescale for implementing this action as loose and non-committal. In its view, the necessary standards must be determined as soon as possible by the European organisations (CEN, CENELEC, and ETSI); in very many cases, these standards have been known for years. Substantive dialogue with industry should begin immediately.

4.1.4.1.4. Comment 4: the ESC thinks that any definite European proposals for interoperable solutions must be presented and discussed in fora outside the European Union so that they become views and positions which can be adopted globally.

4.1.4.1.5. Comment 5: the ESC takes the view that Action 4 should receive the constant attention of the European Commission.

4.2. Action Line 2: take-up of electronic business

I. General comment: The take-up of electronic business in SMEs is a particularly difficult undertaking which requires know-how, capital, and especially decisiveness and going beyond established practices. The companies involved must themselves determine the form and security level of their communications (Business to Business) and reflect the particular conditions of the sector concerned and international practice. This discretion must be guaranteed to ensure adequate resources for market-oriented, flexible and safe business development.

4.2.1. Action 5: promoting the awareness for going digital

4.2.1.1. Action 5 has the aim of providing SMEs with sufficient information about needs and tools for a wider use of ICT and e-business. This action is to be implemented through information meetings and events involving SMEs throughout the European Union.

4.2.1.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC feels that Action 5 is particularly important, since it has been demonstrated that there has been a serious lack of information and awareness about ICT among SMEs, particularly in the regions. Despite the range of opportunities currently provided by conferences, meetings and other events, for various reasons (technophobia, ignorance, indifference, etc.) these sources of information are not used sufficiently.

4.2.1.1.2. Comment 2: the activation of industrial, commercial, and craft industry associations, Chambers of Commerce and business support networks for Action 5 is necessary, and can create the requisite conditions for raising the awareness of SMEs through direct contact, communication and knowledge of the local conditions and their special problems.

4.2.2. Action 6: electronic commerce take-up

4.2.2.1. Action 6 aims to facilitate e-business take-up by SMEs through pilot projects under the IST Programme of the DG "Information Society".

4.2.2.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC regards Action 6 as ineffective for two important reasons: Firstly, the IST programme, which is based on the fifth R& D programme, expires by the end of 2002, and the remaining financial and practical possibilities for implementing Action 6 are small. In addition, the actions contained in the sixth programme, which is intended to come into operation in 2003, are not yet known. Secondly, the IST Programme is particularly specialised and is intended for SMEs with low technological possibilities; these SMEs already use it to a considerable extent.

4.2.3. Action 7: provision of a loan guarantee facility for SMEs

4.2.3.1. Action 7 aims to provide SMEs with loans for investment in ICT. It is to be implemented by creating a guarantee mechanism for loans to SMEs through co-/counter-guarantee schemes in Member States.

4.2.3.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC attaches the highest importance to this Action, but has serious reservations as regards its implementation. The mechanisms used up to now have not in the end led to such funding for SMEs, because the Member States were unable to do it for bureaucratic reasons, and are either unable or unwilling to undertake the necessary role which they are called upon to play in this area.

4.2.3.1.2. Comment 2: the ESC thinks that the Communication should require of the Member States a serious commitment to implement Action 7.

4.2.3.1.3. Comment 3: the ESC would like to see the available appropriations used effectively in practice; the development of this action should be followed closely, since it can really change the situation in the EU.

4.2.4. Action 8: promoting better use of the Structural Funds

4.2.4.1. Action 8 aims to make better use of the Structural Funds in promoting the take-up of e-business by SMEs.

4.2.4.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC regards the setting up of Action 8 as extremely important, because the ERDF can use practical, specific funding to bridge the large "digital gap" which can be seen in the European regions, and particularly in Objective 1 regions where there are enormous imbalances vis-à-vis the central regions of the EU.

4.2.4.1.2. Comment 2: the ESC supports this action and hopes that the regions which have the practical responsibility for implementing the action will not be prevented by the central authorities from responding to current challenges and supporting SMEs by funding the necessary measures.

4.3. Action line 3: ICT skills

I. General Comment: The lack of experts on ICT questions creates serious problems for the spread of digital technology in the EU. The problem does not concern SMEs alone, but the entire European economy, and if educational measures are not adopted immediately (increasing the number of students and supporting schools which teach these technologies), as well as measures at professional level (supporting and assisting ICT researchers so that they do not leave Europe), at technological level (supporting European technological centres) and at political level (by taking long-term measures to promote the supply of the necessary informatics know-how), this problem will soon become the most serious problem in the EU.

II. General comment: According to the "Benchmarking Report following up the strategies for jobs in the Information Society", the need for ICT skills in Europe continues to increase from about 10 million posts at present to about 13 million posts in 2003, with the result that the skills gap will increase correspondingly from 1,2 million to 1,7 million equivalent posts(16).

III. General Comment: With regard to SMEs, the ESC takes the view that there is an acute problem arising from the shortage of ICT specialists. This shortage means that SMEs, particularly those based in the outer regions or outside urban centres, do not often have the necessary support for efforts to gain access to electronic commerce. The shortage also often leads to very high prices for specialists' services, which the SMEs cannot pay.

IV. General Comment: The ESC warmly supports all efforts to introduce the new technologies in education, especially the initiative "Communication from the Commission: e-learning - designing tomorrow's education"(17), and calls upon the Member States and the European Commission to make the most of every possibility and means open to them to develop e-learning. One means which could prove to be effective is to link e-learning with all EU policies and promote it through those policies. The Member States and the European Commission must promote measures for:

i) sufficient supply of computers and software at all stages of education;

ii) ensuring that there are specialised staff, especially those responsible for training;

iii) a full record of the skills and capacities for teaching staff with regard to the new technologies;

iv) the development of software appropriate to European society;

v) reducing the cost of communications.

V. General Comment: Lifelong learning must form the corner-stone of European education policies in order to provide continuous, up-to-date training in line with technological developments(18).

VI. General Comment: It is precisely in the IT sector that SMEs especially are poorly placed to plan for what skilled workers they will need and to take the necessary measures. The ESF already provides support for advising firms where there is a need for skilled workers. Greater attention should be paid to the use of this instrument at national level.

4.3.1. Action 9: supporting industry-led initiatives for new ICT curricula

4.3.1.1. The objective of Action 9 is to support joint initiatives between industry and education for the definition of new requirements arising in the economy involving the use of new technologies, and from the globalisation of markets.

4.3.1.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC regards Action 9 as vital to the necessary reorientation of skills which are taught at tertiary level, to ensure that they are useful and practical and meet the specialised needs of the digital age.

4.3.1.1.2. Comment 2: the ESC notes that the European academic community reacts slowly to the spirit of the times and the needs of the market; it calls for a deepening and extension of cooperation between the private sector and the educational institutions.

4.3.2. Action 10: creating an ICT skills monitoring group with the Member States

4.3.2.1. Action 10 aims to establish a working group to monitor market demand for all skills related to the digital economy and the levels of training provided to workers in the public and private sectors.

4.3.2.1.1. Comment 1: the ESC takes the view that the needs of the market are at bursting point, and that all the working group can do is note the seriousness of the situation for the coming years. However, the working group can do some serious work if it closely follows developments in the markets and forwards this information to the public authorities and the educational institutions.

4.3.3. Action 11: launching a trainee programme with SMEs

4.3.3.1. Comment 1: the ESC takes a special interest in Action 11 and the role which can be played by employment of students in SMEs, either as trainees (learning at the workplace about the practical operation of a firm) or as instructors (offering their expertise on IT, e-commerce and new technologies).

4.3.3.2. Comment 2: the ESC points out that in no circumstances should the use of students be allowed to damage the position of workers in a firm (e.g. through redundancies, downgradings, transfers, or changes in their salary/wage situation).

4.3.3.3. Comment 3: the ESC calls upon the Commission to prepare this action well, to ensure that the use of students in SMEs will be of practical use and to avoid the side-effects of intentional or unintended mistakes which would lead SMEs to give up their efforts to adopt new technologies.

4.3.3.4. Comment 4: this action needs to draw upon the examples of best practice which have been derived from similar experiences in the Member States.

5. Recommendations

5.1. The ESC proposes (a) that this Communication should be the starting-point for regular new "Go Digital" actions both by the Commission and by the Member States, (b) in line with changing needs and developments, that the timescales for the actions be shortened, (c) that actions be planned to cover all SMEs, with particular emphasis on SMEs in peripheral locations, which operate in a manifestly less favourable environment and (d) that the Member States give high priority to Go Digital actions in accordance with local needs.

5.2. Action 3

5.2.1. The ESC proposes the creation of an effective mechanism to support SMEs with consultancy and legal services, to enable businessmen to be equal to the new increased requirements of the digital economy.

5.2.2. It also proposes that the institutional, legal and general regulatory framework within which e-commerce measures will be developed should be finalised directly on the basis of an international approach, which is essential given the international nature of electronic commerce.

5.2.3. Finally on Action 3, it recommends that a network be set up for providing legislative and regulatory information, via the Euro Info Centres (EICs) where they exist, or through other bodies (chambers of commerce, representative bodies, organisations, etc.), which would gather and distribute the necessary material, as well as creating a specialised electronic commerce support service for SMEs.

5.3. Action 5

5.3.1. The ESC proposes that in view of SMEs' special needs and circumstances, information and training should be specified in detail, with a very large number of practical approaches that will fill the basic gaps and help SMEs to begin taking the first difficult steps.

5.3.2. The aims and principles of information-provision for SMEs must change, since it has not yet produced the expected effect. Given that these companies depend on the personal efforts of their owners and a very small number of staff, the owner must be convinced of the real, tangible and practical benefits in very concrete ways(19). Only practical measures bring SMEs to the internet and persuade owners to make the effort to start training their staff.

5.3.3. The ESC has repeatedly proposed that a European system be created for transferring innovation from research centres to companies, especially SMEs, which are at a disadvantage when it comes to assimilating and applying new technologies.

5.4. Action 7

5.4.1. The ESC proposes higher funding and parallel incentives for investment in the field of new technologies and e-commerce. SMEs whose main activity is the development of innovative and technology products and innovative services (computers, software, internet software, creation of information systems, etc.) particularly need support.

5.4.2. It also recommends to the Council and the Commission that special incentives be provided for the banking sector to really promote the development of electronic commerce in SMEs, through the direct and immediate funding of e-commerce instruments.

5.5. Action 9

5.5.1. The ESC proposes that more young people be guided, through the education system, towards jobs for which there is increased demand in the digital economy. In addition, it proposes that the universities and other educational bodies should acquire closer links with the private sector.

5.6. Action 11

5.6.1. Action 11 will need to be implemented with great care, according to rules laid down in advance, so that the use of students in firms will yield the best possible results.

5.6.2. The ESC asks that all the actions be supported politically to ensure the successful implementation of the Action Plan. After the decisions taken at Lisbon, European Councils should regularly discuss the issue of increasing technology penetration in the EU, so that this matter which is crucially important for Europe's economy is addressed at the highest political level.

5.7. Every effort must be made to ensure that SMEs which have these possibilities and prospects understand the need for them to be present at both European and international level through the use of the new technologies.

5.8. The ESC supports the "Go Digital" actions for SMEs as described in "eEurope 2003"(20), in particular for B2B measures in the candidate countries(21), where SMEs face even more problems with access to electronic commerce(22).

5.9. We propose that a structured pan-European information network be set up including the Euro Info Centres, the Innovation Relay Centres, representative organisations and chambers of commerce.

5.10. The ESC calls on the Commission to coordinate the immediate and mandatory use of new technologies in all public administrations with uniform and standardised approaches across the EU, so that red tape is reduced, SMEs can receive assistance and public systems can operate more rapidly and effectively.

Brussels, 16 January 2002.

The President

of the Economic and Social Committee

Göke Frerichs

(1) COM(1999) 687 final.

(2) COM(2000) 330 final.

(3) Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Helping SMEs to "Go Digital", COM(2001) 136 final, 13 March 2001 - http://europa.eu.int/ispo/legal/documents/com130301_en.pdf

(4) See the table annexed to the progress report "eEurope: an information society for all":

http://europa.eu.int/comm/information_society/eEurope/documentation/progrep/pr_annex2_en.htm

(5) For a more analytical approach to the question of mass training in information society technologies, see OJ C 117, 26.4.2000 (chapter 5).

(6) A survey by Interbrand shows that the value of AOL is US$ 4329 million and the marketing expenditure US$ 807 million, i.e. marketing expenditure is 16,9 % of revenue, whilst for Yahoo it is 35,6 % and for Amazon it is 25,9 %.

(7) See ESC opinion on the Green Paper on public sector information in the Information Society (OJ C 169 of 16.6.1999) and Digital content/Global networks.

(8) On e-Government, see also eEurope 2002 - Communication to the spring Council in Stockholm, 23-24 March 2001, COM(2001) 140 final.

(9) See relevant statistical data on http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eEurope/news_library/pdf_files/impact_en.pdf, page 11.

(10) http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eEurope/news_library/documents/netsec/netsec_en.doc

(11) See the relevant memorandum on lifelong learning, SEC(2000) 1832.

(12) See the relevant memorandum on lifelong learning, SEC(2000) 1832.

(13) See the ESC Opinion on legal aspects of electronic commerce in the internal market (OJ C 169, 16.6.1999).

(14) http://europa.eu.int/information_society/international/candidate_countries/doc/eEurope_june2001.pdf, page 19.

(15) http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/news_library/documents/netsec/netsec_en.doc

(16) Benchmarking Report following up the "Strategies for jobs in the Information Society", Commission Staff Working Document, Brussels, 7.2.2001, SEC(2001) 222.

(17) Commission of the European Communities, 25.5.2000, COM(2000) 318 final.

(18) See the relevant memorandum on lifelong learning, SEC(2000) 1832.

(19) For example, under another "Go Digital" programme, the Greek Ministry of Development has so far this year received around 9000 requests from SMEs to provide the resources needed (computers, modems, printers, registration with internet providers) and around 2500 requests from SMEs to cover the costs of setting up company web pages on the internet.

(20) http://europa.eu.int/information_society/international/candidate_countries/doc/eEurope_june2001.pdf

(21) http://europea.eu.int/information_society/internationa/candidate_countries/cc_links/index_en.htm

(22) http://europa.en.int/information_society/international/candidate_countries/doc/eEurope_june2001.pdf (pages 1-2)