WRITTEN QUESTION E-2085/97 by Amedeo Amadeo (NI) to the Commission (19 June 1997)

Subject: The information society

The Commission communications to the Council, the European Parliament, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on 'the implications of the information society for European Union policies: preparing the next steps' (COM(96)0395 final) and 'the information society: from Corfu to Dublin - the new emerging priorities' (CES 1401/96) give rise to concern over employment trends in the information society. This fundamental issue will be examined further in the opinion on the Green Paper on 'living and working in the information society: people first'. Nonetheless, the analyses currently available do not paint a reassuring picture of the labour market in the future or of the future shape of labour relations. As things stand, there is no reason to suppose that work will be fairly distributed in the future.

There is concern that the various initiatives taken by the Union might result in a multi-speed liberalization of the market, which is likely to generate widespread imbalances, particularly in the social field.

The Commission is asked to tailor the information society to private individuals, rather than the reverse. Particular attention must be paid to those social groups which are already excluded from the ICTs (information and communication technologies) and which are likely to become even more so in future. At the same time, provision must be made for training programmes for various types of workers, such as the self-employed and teleworkers, and consideration must be given to the funding of training programmes for workers employed by small and medium-sized undertakings.

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission (24 July 1997)

Both the communication on the information society: 'From Corfu to Dublin - the new emerging priorities' ((COM(96) 395 final. )) as well as the communication on Europe at the forefront of global information society: rolling action plan ((COM(96) 607 final. )), recognised the importance of ensuring that the information society develops in a way that would benefit all European citizens. This objective was reflected in the fact that a number of initiatives were already included in the rolling action plan in order to ensure that social and regional cohesion is achieved. Relevant initiatives have included:

- the communication on the 'Information society and cohesion' ((COM(97) 7. )) which specifically tackles the issue of regional cohesion. It proposes that the Commission and the Member States should monitor structural fund programmes to ensure that the information society dimension of policy development is fully mainstreamed, having special regard to the integration of those at a special disadvantage on the labour market and increasing information and communication technologies (ICT) skills training of women and support structures for teleworkers;

- issues regarding the labour market, employment and social exclusion were examined by the Commission in the green paper 'Living and working in the information society - people first' ((COM(96) 389. )). These areas will also be examined in a follow-up communication foreseen for summer 1997. The Commission actions aim to ensure that the information society benefits everyone; this means first of all citizens, including groups such as the disabled or elderly, but also businesses;

- a green paper on 'Partnership for a new organisation of work' ((COM(97) 128. )) addresses the implications of the information society on work organisation and promotes debate on the reconciliation of security for workers with the flexibility which firms need in order to remain competitive;

- the communication on 'Teaching and learning - Towards the learning society' ((COM(97) 256 final. )) is an action plan aimed at increasing the synergies among national initiatives to promote the use of new technologies in education;

- the communication on 'Standardization and the global information society, the European approach' ((COM(96) 359. )), highlights the importance of standardization and specifically identifies the need for the Community to monitor standardization activities so as to ensure that the benefits of the global information society will be extended to all elements that make up society. In addition, it advocates a number of projects in the field of standardization to the benefit of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) consumers, workers, and those with special needs.

Other relevant initiatives have included the proposal for a directive of the application of the open network provision (ONP) to voice telephony ((COM(96) 419 as modified by COM(97) 287. )) and on universal service for telecommunications in a competitive environment which describes the scope of the universal service for telecommunications which must be available to all users in the Community and requires Member States to ensure that this service is affordable, taking into account national situations.

Moreover, the Commission's proposal for the 5th framework programme for research and technlogical development ((COM(97) 142. )) includes key issues such as the 'creation of a user friendly information society' and 'innovation and participation of SMEs'.