WRITTEN QUESTION E-0605/01

by Juan Naranjo Escobar (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(1 March 2001)

Subject: Promoting the teaching of new technologies in the European Union

The dearth of specialists in new technologies in the European Union has reached dramatic proportions with 1,6 million specialists being needed in the next few years. The time has therefore come to take action and reduce the lead taken by the United States.

In order to obtain that number of specialists and reduce our main economic competitor's lead, it is clear that a major effort will be required to create the necessary infrastructure of teaching centres to train the specialists needed in the field of new technologies.

Can the Commission say what its strategy is for the consolidation and further development of the infrastructure of centres for the teaching of new technologies at all levels and what stimuli can be expected from private initiatives with regard to participating in the effort required vis-à-vis the abovementioned teaching infrastructure?

Answer given by Mrs Diamantopoulou on behalf of the Commission

(30 April 2001)

At the Lisbon European Council of 23-24 March 2000, the Community set itself a new strategic goal: to 4become the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world, capable of sustainable economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion.

The European Employment Strategy(1) took the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council into account by strengthening the role of lifelong learning in the employment guidelines for 2001, including digital literacy for all citizens (e-learning) and the need for Member States to encourage in particular the development of multi-purpose local learning centres (see horizontal objectives and guidelines 4, 5)(2).

The Santa Maria da Feira European Council held on 19 and 20 June 2000 also strengthened the role of the social partners, who were invited to conclude agreements on lifelong learning with a view to creating conditions which would give all workers the chance to become digitally literate by 2003.

Moreover, in Stockholm, the European Council endorsed the Commission's proposal for the creation of a High Level Skills and Mobility Task Force to examine the drivers, characteristics and barriers within the European labour market. In its work, particular importance will be attached to the information and communication technology (ICT) skills needed for the knowledge society.

The Structural Funds (2000-2006) contribute financially to the implementation of the European Employment Strategy with operational commitments for actions contributing to the development of new technologies. Lifelong learning initiatives encompass a number of priorities within the European Social Fund (ESF) plans.

Furthermore, the eEurope Action Plan 2002(3), together with the eLearning initiative, also provides that by the end of 2002 the workforce should be given the chance to become digitally literate by means of lifelong learning, the number of training posts and information technology courses should be increased significantly, and a network of learning and training centres for information and communication technology training and retraining of postgraduate students. The responsibility for the first measure lies with the Member States, the social partners and the private sector. It is also up to the Member States to set up public Internet access points and on-site training opportunities in public buildings libraries, employment agencies, schools by the end of 2001 to ensure access for all and to enhance employability.

Progress made in this area is checked regularly by the High Level Group on the Employment and Social Dimension of the Information Society (ESDIS)(4), which is managed by DG Employment and Social Affairs.

The initiative eLearning: Designing tomorrow's education(5) was adopted by the Commission on 24 May 2000. Following on from the conclusions of the Lisbon European Council, the Commission presented the principles, objectives and lines of action of eLearning. This initiative was welcomed by the Education Ministers and by the Feira European Council in June 2000. The eLearning initiative is in line with the overall eEurope Action Plan and with the Report on the concrete future objectives of education systems(6).

On 28 March 2001 the Commission adopted an eLearning Action Plan for the period 2001-2004. Its aim is to present the arrangements and methods for implementing the eLearning initiative. It seeks to mobilise those involved in education and training, together with the relevant social, industrial and economic actors, to make lifelong learning(7) the driving force behind a society based on solidarity in a competitive economy. To this end, all Community instruments and programmes will play a part in implementing the eLearning Action Plan. It will help to promote the employability and adaptability objectives of the European Employment Strategy, to tackle the skills gap related to the new technologies and to ensure greater social inclusion.

(1) This coordinated strategy is based on four pillars: employability, entrepreneurship, adaptability and equal opportunities. (http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/empl&esf/ees_en.htm).

(2) Council Decision 2001/63/EC of 19 January 2001 on Guidelines for Member States' employment policies for the year 2001 (OJ L 22, 24.1.2001).

(3) COM(2000) 330 final.

(4) http://europa.eu.int/comm/employment_social/soc-dial/info_soc/esdis/index.htm.

(5) COM(2000) 318 final (http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/elearning).

(6) COM(2001) 59 final.

(7) The current public debate concerning the Memorandum on Lifelong Learning SEC(2000) 1832 (http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/life/index.html) will pave the way for an action plan by the end of 2001.