Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION ADOPTING A MULTIANNUAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMME TO STIMULATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY IN EUROPE (INFORMATION SOCIETY)
Date: 1996-12-12
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU programme, information policy, information technology, job creation, new technology

COMMISSION  OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES 

Brussels,  12.12.1996 
COM(96)  592 final 

96/0283 (CNS) 

Proposal  for a 

COUNCIL  DECISION 

ADOPTING  A MULTIANNUAL COMMUNITY  PROGRAMME TO STIMULATE 
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INFORMATION  SOCIETY  IN EUROPE (INFORMATION  SOCIETY) 

(presented  by the- Commission) 

EXPLANATORY  MEMORANDUM 

The  Commission  has  decided  that  a  legal  basis  should  be  proposed  for  a  number  of 
budget  lines,  and  has  sent  to  the  budgetary  authority  a  Communication  on  this  issue 
(Communication of the Commission to the budgetary authority on the legal bases and the 
maximum  amounts,  SEC(94)  1106  final,  of  6  July  1994).  The  present  proposal  is 
submitted  in  line  with  this  communication  to  cover  budget  line  B5-722, and  concerns  a 
multiannual  Community  programme  to  stimulate  the  establishment  of  the  information 
society in Europe (Information  Society). 

The  development  of  the  information  society  in  Europe  is  the  result  of  a  permanently 
evolving  interaction  between  market,  social,  and  cultural  forces,  which  affects  the  way 
people  live,  learn  and  work.  Many  people  are  already  undergoing  profound  change  in 
their social and working lives, and worry about the growing impact of the development  of 
the  information  society  on  employment,  training,  and  styles  of  life  and  work.  Many 
people  and  enterprises  in  Europe  are  not  fully  prepared  for  the  new  information  and 
communication  technologies,  which  may  lead  to  serious  disadvantages  for  Europe's 
possibilities to reap the potential benefits the information  society offers  in terms of higher 
economic growth, more employment (albeit different)  and better quality of life. 

It is therefore  necessary that ordinary people and businesses become more involved  in the 
identification  of their needs, in the development of applications to support those needs, as 
well  as  in  the  management  of  the  process  to  implement  the  information  society  in 
general.  This  cannot  be  achieved  by market  forces  alone, which  tend  to  concentrate  on 
short-term  return  on  investment,  and  therefore  often  neglect  accompanying  measures 
aimed at longer-term  socio-economic  benefits. 

Some  initiatives  were  already  taken  at  the  level  of  the  Member  States,  but  without 
accompanying  actions  at the  level  of the European  Union  there  is a considerable  risk  of 
duplication  of  effort,  lack  of  synergy  and  multi-speed  development  which  will  increase 
already  existing  distortions  between  and within Member  States, as regards  access  to  the 
information  society. 

In order to guarantee  a successful  transition to a mature information  society, it should  be 
avoided  that  entire  groups  of  people  or  social  and  economic  actors  be  marginalized  or 
develop  an  attitude  of  rejection.  This  would  be  likely  to  happen  in  the  absence  of 
targeted efforts  to promote widespread access to and familiarity  with information  services 
and  applications  which  are  more  and  more  useful  and  relevant  to  personal  and  business 
needs. 

The  European  Union  must  contribute  to  a  better  understanding  by  citizens,  companies 
and  institutions  of  the  issues,  opportunities  and  risks  at  stake,  helping  to  create 
confidence  in progress, and to mobilize popular support for the information  society. 

So far, the following  steps have been undertaken: 

In the White Paper on "Growth, competitiveness, employment  - The challenges and  ways 
forward  into the  21st century"  (COM(93) 700 final),  submitted  by the Commission  on 5 
December  1993,  the  Commission  acknowledges  that  the  implementation  of  the 
information  society  is  critical  for  the  future  of  Europe.  The  document  stresses  that 
information  and  communication  technologies  and  related  services  have  the  potential  to 
promote  steady  and  sustainable  growth,  to  increase  competitiveness,  to  open  new  job 
opportunities and to improve the quality of life of all Europeans. 

The  White  Paper  was  examined  by  the  European  Council  in  Brussels  on  10  and  11 
December  1993.  The Council gave its full  political support and requested thata report be 
prepared  on the information  society by a group of prominent persons, providing  concrete 
recommendations  for action. 

The  report  of  the  high  level  group  on the  information  society  of  26  May  1994  "Europe 
and  the  global  information  society  -  Recommendations  to  the  European  Council" 
emphasised, amongst other things, the urgency of responding to the new challenges. 

The report was submitted to the European Council in Corfu  on 24 and 25 June  1994, who 
recognised  the  importance  of  the  opportunity  and  the  scale  of  the  challenge  facing 
Europe.  It  requested  the  European  Commission  to  prepare  an  Action  Plan  containing  a 
set of measures that the LTnion and the Member  States should take as soon as possible  in' 
order to establish the information  society in Europe under the best possible conditions. 

The Commission responded to this request by means of a communication of  19 July  1994 
to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the  Economic  and  Social  Committee  and  the 
Committee  of the Regions  on  "Europe's way to the information  society. An  action  plan" 
(COM(94)  347  final).  This plan underlines that  although  initiative  must  clearly  lie  with 
the private sector, the Member  States and the Union must obviously  support these  efforts, 
thus  confirming  the  initial  political  impetus  given by the White  Paper  and  the  European 
Council  meeting  in  Corfu,  by  implementing" a  dependable  and  stable  framework,  and 
setting an example in those fields for which they have responsibility. 

It was in this perspective that the Action Plan structured the different  policies and  actions 
under  four  main  headings: the  legal  and regulatory  framework;  networks, basic  services, 
applications  and  content;  social,  societal  and  cultural  aspects;  and  promotion  of  the 
information  society.  On  this  basis,  first  steps  have  been  initiated.  In  particular,  the 
Commission  has  prepared  a  Communication  on  the  impact  of  Information  Society  on 
other  policies,  which  highlights  the  need  for  a  broad  approach  to  information  society 
policy  development. 

In order to bring about a broad consensus amongst all the players in the economic, social, 
cultural  and  academic  fields,  the  Commission  has  set up the  Information  Society  Forum 
and the High  Level  Expert  Group  on the  Social  and  Societal  Aspects  of the  Information 
Society. 

The first  interim  report of the High Level  Expert  Group of January  1996 contained  a set 
of first reflections  in view of the preparation of a final  report. 

In  its  first  annual  report  to  the  European  Commission  of  June  1996  the  Information 
Society  Forum  recommended  that  the  Commission  should  launch  EU-wide  awareness 

3 

raising  initiatives,  implement  actions  best  suited  for  the  promotion  of  best  practices, 
promote  the  use  of  new  technologies,  give  extra  attention  to  explore  the  economic  and 
social implications  of the information  society, and to ensure that people  with  disabilities 
have equal access to the information  society. 

On  24  July  1996  the  European  Commission  adopted  a  Green  Paper  on  'Living  and 
Working  in  the  Information  Society:  People  First',  which  is  intended  to  deepen  the 
political, social and civil dialogue on the most important social and societal  aspects of the 
information  society.  In the  light  of the reactions received,  the  Commission  will  present 
action proposals in  1997. 

The  Midrand  Conference  in  South  Africa,  by  bringing  together  representatives  from  all 
layers  of  society  (government,  business,  labour,  academia  and  community)  proved  that 
there  is  a  need  to  develop  links  between  European  initiatives  and  projects  with  an 
international  dimension  from  developing  countries; to create an inventory  of  information 
society  initiatives  in the developing world; to develop national  and trans-national  fora  to 
disseminate  information,  enhance  co-ordination  and  spread  the  knowledge  of  learned 
lessons  and  best  practices.  The  Chairperson's  conclusions  at  the  Midrand  Conference 
underlined that  special  emphasis should be put on the development  of integrated  systems 
to  meet  people's  basic  needs,  particularly  in  rural  areas.  Applications  for  developing 
countries  should  focus  on  universal  access,  local  content,  enpowerment  of  SME's,  with 
equal  engagement  in  the  development  of  the  physical  infrastructure  and  of  human 
resources. 

The Rome Conference  highlighted that the information  society needs to be constructed  in 
the  Mediterranean  by  further  developing  telecommunications  and  research  networks, 
education  and  training  systems,  as well  as fostering  common  initiatives  like  workshops, 
training  and  pilot  projects.  At  the  same  time  it  was  stressed  that  the  needs  in  terms  of 
new  information  and  communications  technologies  be  given  consideration  when 
governments,  the  scientific  community  and  the  European  Union join  forces  to  develop 
information  society  initiatives. 

The  second  European  Union/Central  and  Eastern  European  Countries  Forum  on  the 
Information  Society  in  Prague  (follow  up  of  the  first  Forum  held  in  June  1995  in 
Brussels)  confirmed  the  need  to  foster  awareness  actions  of  all  issues  (social,  legal  and 
political)  involved  in  the  development  of  the  information  society,  particularly  for  those 
European  countries  which  are  reforming  their  economies.  An  action  plan  oriented 
towards  the  implementation  of  European  level  co-operative  projects  was  presented  for 
follow-up. 

The Commission's  White paper on "Growth, competitiveness, employment",  the report  of 
the high level group ("Bangemann  Report"), the Action Plan, the first  annual report of the 
Information  Society  Forum,  the  conclusions  of  the  Midrand,  Rome  and  Prague 
Conferences,  the  growing  world-wide  activity  in the  field  of  the  information  society,  in 
particular  the  major  studies  launched  by  the  OECD  and  the  interest  shown  by  the  G7 
countries, have considerably broadened the scope of the activities undertaken  so far  in the 
context  of  the  development  of  the  telecommunications  policy  and  the  trans-European 
information  networks. 

Thus, the broader concept of the "information  society" makes it necessary  to explore  new 
perspectives  and  to  stimulate  new  activities,  in  particular  of  a  cross-sectoral  nature.  As 
recognised  in  the  Communication  on  "The  Information  Society:  From  Corfu  to  Dublin. 

4-

The new emerging priorities", the multifaceted  nature of the information  society implies a 
need  for  greater  policy  coordination  between  the  various  Community  policies  and 
between  the  Communities  different  instruments  and  funding  mechanisms.  In  particular, 
this  includes  increasing  public  awareness  of  the  possible  impacts  of  the  information 
society,  launching  actions that  demonstrate  best practice  and  sharing  of  experiences  and 
knowledge  amongst  the  different  actors  in  Europe,  as well  as  ensuring  that  experiences 
and  best  practices  are  exchanged  at  international  level  and  that  the  global  dimension  of 
the information  society is taken into consideration. 

The activities foreseen under this proposal therefore  include three action lines: 

(a) measures to raise awareness: 

ACTION LINES 

-  the  dissemination  of  information  and  promotion  of  actions  aimed  at  a  better 
understanding  of the opportunities, benefits  and possible risks of the information  society, 
for  instance  with  regard  to  different  user  groups,  professional  associations  etc.,  and 
monitoring of the evolution of people's awareness through regular surveys, 

- the  gathering  and  identification  of citizens' and users' needs, and the  stimulation  of  the 
interest  of  industry,  in  particular  small  and  medium  sized  enterprises  (SME's),  in 
providing  services  and  applications 
through 
to  meet 
presentations  of  EU  information  society  activities,  networks,  applications  and  concrete 
opportunities to be exploited, 

these  needs,  for 

instance 

- the  demonstration  of potential  impacts  of the  information  society  at regional  level,  the 
promotion  of  exchange  of  relevant  information  between  cities  and  regions,  and  giving 
visibility  to  the  general  public  on  concrete  projects  being  implemented  to  service  their 
needs, 

-  the  organization  and  follow-up  of  fora  on the  development  of the  information  society, 
advising the Commission on the challenges to overcome, 

(b) measures to help establish the information  society in Europe: 

-  the  analysis  of  the  technical,  economic,  social  and  regulatory  aspects, the  appraisal  of 
the  challenges  raised  by  the  transition  to  the  information  society,  as  well  as  the 
identification  of actions necessary for the optimization of the socio-economic  benefits, 

- the assessment  of the opportunities  and barriers which disadvantaged  social  groups  and 
peripheral  and less favoured  regions may face  in accessing and using information  society 
products  and  services;  the  identification  of  appropriate  measures  to  overcome  these 
obstacles  and  to  grasp  the  related  benefits,  the  promotion  of  information  systems  and 
services serving in particular the needs of elderly, disabled and unemployed people, 

- the analysis of current initiatives at European and national  level regarding the provision 
of  applications, based  in particular  on a permanent  inventory  of projects  which  facilitate 
the deployment of the information  society, 

- the provision  of transparency, based in particular on a permanent  inventory,  concerning 
ongoing policies and programmes at European and national level, 

-  the  contribution,  on  the  basis  of  identified  best  programmes  and  practices,  to  the 
European  wide take-up of successful  examples in information  society policies,  projects 
and  services,  for  instance  by  supporting  demonstration  actions,  in  particular  in  small 
communities acting as small-scale, flexible test sites where new approaches can be tried 
out, with the wide participation of citizens from different  social groups, as well as with 
the active involvement of social partners and voluntary associations, 

-  the  promotion  of  synergy  and  cooperation  between  ongoing  studies  and  activities  at 
European  and  national  level, in particular  by catalytic brokerage  action helping  in  the 
creation of partnerships among interested organisations and individuals, 

-  the  identification  and  evaluation  of the financing  mechanisms  needed  to  develop  the 
information  society, in particular those able to help stimulate public/private partnerships 
for the deployment of applications of public interest, 

- the identification  of obstacles to the functioning  of the Internal Market in the area of the 
information  society and the consideration of measures to guarantee the full benefit  of the 
area without frontiers for its development, 

- the launching of actions to ascertain the priorities of SME's and regarding the obstacles 
hampering  the  use  by  SME's  of  information  technologies,  in  close  coordination  with 
Commission efforts to mobilise different  groups of ICT users, 

(c)  measures  to  take  into  consideration  and  make  use  of  the  global  dimension  of  the 
information society: 

-  the  enhancement  of  visibility  of  the  global  dimension  of  the  information  society,  in 
particular  through  an  inventory  of  initiatives  taken  worldwide,  the  exchange  of 
information  with third countries, and notably with developing countries, and through the 
collaboration  in  the  preparation  of  demonstration  actions,  either  bilaterally  or  in 
collaboration with international organisations, 

These  activities  shall  not  duplicate  existing  possibilities  for  actions  in  fields  already 
covered  under  other  instruments, e.g.  in the fields  of research  and  development, trans-
European networks, information  content and standardization.  In order to avoid overlap, 
to  complement  other  initiatives,  and to  bring  more  expertise  into  this  programme,  the 
relevant  services  shall  be associated  with the development  of activities.  They  shall be 
invited  to  participate  in  the  definition  of  the  work  programme,  on  which  calls  for 
proposal will be based, the evaluation and selection of proposals, as well as the review of 
results. 

In the light  of the above mentioned, the Commission invites the Council to adopt,  after 
consulting  the  European  Parliament,  the  attached  decision.  For  the  adoption  of  this 
decision the EC Treaty  does not provide for  other powers than those defined  in Article 
235. 

G 

PROPOSAL FOR A COUNCIL DECISION 

ADOPTING A MULTIANNUAL COMMUNITY PROGRAMME TO STIMULATE 

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY IN EUROPE (INFORMATION  SOCIETY) 

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN  UNION, 

Having  regard  to  the  Treaty  establishing  the  European  Community,  and  in  particular 
Article 235 thereof, 

Having regard to the Commission proposal, 

Having regard to the opinion of the European Parliament1, 

Whereas  the  establishment  of the  information  society  can, by  introducing  new  forms  of 
economic, political  and social relations, help the Community  to cope with the  challenges 
of the next century, in particular the creation of new jobs, as indicated  in the White Paper 
on 'Growth, competitiveness  and employment  - the challenges and ways forward  into the 
21st century'; 

Whereas  the  European  Council  in  Corfu  on  24  and  25  June  1994  took  note  of  the 
Recommendations  of  the  High  Level  Group  on  the  information  society  as  presented  in 
the report 'Europe and the global information  society' and the Commission  established  an 
Action  Plan  consisting  of  concrete  measures  at  both  Community  and  Member  States 
level; 

Whereas  the  European  Council  in  Florence  on  21  and  22  June  1996  underlined  the 
potential  of  the  information  society  for  education  and  training,  for  the  organization  of 
work and for employment  creation; 

Whereas the pace of progress in the development of the information  society depends on a 
large  extent  on  the  awareness,  understanding  and  support  by  citizens  and  public  and 
private  organisations,  of  the  possibilities  of  applications  of  new  information  and 
communication technologies to service people's and business' needs; 

Whereas  the  establishment  of  the  information  society  will  require  availability,  for  each 
citizen, eompany  or public organization,  in every part of the  Community,  of  information 
of any nature they need; 

^ J No 

1-

Whereas the establishment  of the information  society will gradually reorganize the nature 
and  content  of  human  activity  in  all  areas,  and  have  important  cross-sectoral  effects  in 
areas of activity hitherto  independent; 

Whereas the  measures  necessary  for  the implementation  of the  information  society  have 
to take  into  account  the  economic  and  social  cohesion  of the  Community  as well  as  the 
continuity in the functioning  of the Internal Market; 

Whereas  the  définition  of  these  measures  requires  preparatory  analyses,  aimed  at 
improving  understanding  of  the  various  fields  which  may  be  affected  by  Community 
actions related to the information  society; 

Whereas  the  first  interim  report  of  the  High  Level  Expert  Group  on  the  Social  and 
Societal  Aspects  of  the  Information  Society  of  January  1996  contained  a  set  of  first 
reflections  in view of the preparation of a final report; 

Whereas  the  first  annual  report  of  the  Information  Society  Forum  to  the  European 
Commission  of  June  1996  recommended  that  the  Commission  should  launch  EU-wide 
awareness  raising  initiatives,  promote  actions  best  suited  for  the  promotion  of  best 
practices,  promote  the  use  of  new  technologies,  give  extra  attention  to  explore  the 
economic  and  social  implications  of  the  information  society,  and  to  ensure  that  people 
with disabilities have equal access to the information  society; 

Whereas the  European  Commission  on 24 July  1996 adopted  a  Green  Paper  on  'Living 
and  Working  in  the  Information  Society:  People  First',  which  is  intended  to  deepen  the 
political, social and civil dialogue on the most important social and societal aspects of the 
information  society;  in  the  light  of  the  reactions  received,  the  Commission  will  present 
action proposals in 1997; 

Whereas  the  measures  necessary  for  the implementation  of the information  society  have 
.to take into account the global dimension of the information  society; 

Whereas  the  G7  Ministerial  Conference  on  Information  Society  and  Development  in 
Midrand,  South Africa  from  13 to  15 May  1996 recognised  that the  "information  society 
model"  should  be  pursued  for  the  benefit  of  the  developing  countries,  to  solve  their 
unique  needs  and  challenges,  to  support  their  sustainable  growth  and  to  ensure  their 
effective  participation in the emerging global "wired" economy; 

Whereas  the  Rome  Conference  on  30  and  31  May  1996  recognised  that  one  of  the 
elements  of  the  political  dialogue  between  the  European  Community  and  the  twelve 
countries involved in the Euro-Mediterranean partnership, started in November  1995 with 
the  Barcelona  Conference,  is indeed the construction  of a truly  open information  society 
in the  Mediterranean  region  which  will  benefit  in  terms  of  growth,  competitiveness  and 
employment to users, industries and service providers of information  and  communication 
technologies; 

Whereas the  second  European Union/Central and Eastern European  Countries  Forum  on 
the Information  Society in Prague on  12 and  13 September  1996 confirmed  that the  issues 
involved  in  the  development  of  the  information  society  are  particularly  important  to 
European  countries  which  are  reforming  their  economy  and  underlined  the  need  to 
provide platforms  for information  exchange and discussion; 

Whereas existing  possibilities  for  actions, e.g.  in the fields  of research  and  development, 
trans-european  networks,  information  content,  social  policy,  and  standardization,  shall 
not be  duplicated; 

Whereas  progress  of  this  programme  should  be  continuosly  and  systematically 
monitored;  whereas  at the  end  of  this  programme  there  should  be  a  final  assessment  of 
results obtained compared with the objectives  set out in this Decision; 

Whereas it is necessary to fix the duration of the programme; 

Whereas, for  the adoption  of this decision, the Treaty does not provide  for  other  powers 
than those defined  in Article  235, 

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: 

Article 1 

1.  A programme (Information  Society) is hereby adopted with the following  objectives: 

-  increasing  public  awareness  and  understanding  of  the  potential  impact  of  the 
information  society and its new applications, 

- helping to establish the information  society in Europe, by promoting  widespread  access 
to and familiarity  in the use of new information  services and applications. 

- giving  consideration to  and making  use of the worldwide  dimension  of the  information 
society. 

2.  The programme  shall cover a period from 1  January  1997 to 31 December  2001. 

3.  The  annual  appropriations  shall  be authorized  by the Budgetary  Authority  within  the 
limits of the financial  perspective. 

4.  The  activities  foreseen  are  actions  of  a  cross-sectoral  nature,  complementing 
Community  actions  in  other  fields. None  of these  shall  duplicate  the work  being  carried 
out in these fields under other Community programmes. 

Article 2 

In  order  to  attain  the  objectives  referred  to  in  Article  1, the  following  actions  shall  be 
undertaken: 

(a) measures to raise awareness: 

-  the  dissemination  of  information  and  promotion  of  actions  aimed  at  a  better 
understanding  of the opportunities, benefits  and possible risks of the information  society, 

- the  gathering  and  identification  of citizens' and  users' needs, and the  stimulation  of  the 
interest  of  industry,  in  particular  small  and  medium  sized  enterprises  (SME's),  in 
providing services and applications to meet these needs, 

- the  demonstration  of potential  impacts of the  information  society  at  regional  level,  the 
promotion  of  exchange  of  relevant  information  between  cities  and  regions,  and  giving 
visibility  to  the  general  public  on  concrete  projects  being  implemented  to  service  their 
needs, 

-  the  organization  and  follow-up  of  fora  on the  development  of the  information  society, 
advising the Commission on the challenges to overcome, 

(b) measures to help establish the information  society in Europe: 

-  the  analysis  of  the  technical,  economic,  social  and  regulatory  aspects, the  appraisal  of 
the  challenges  raised  by  the  transition  to  the  information  society,  as  well  as  the 
identification  of actions necessary for the optimization of the socio-economic  benefits, 

- the assessment  of the opportunities  and barriers which disadvantaged  social  groups and 
peripheral  and less favoured  regions may face in accessing and using information  society 
products  and  services;  the  identification  of  appropriate  measures  to  overcome  these 
obstacles and to grasp the related  benefits, 

- the analysis of current initiatives at European and national  level regarding the  provision 
of applications,  based  in particular  on a permanent  inventory  of projects  which  facilitate 
the deployment of the information  society, 

- the provision  of transparency, based  in particular on a permanent  inventory,  concerning 
ongoing policies and programmes at European and national level, 

-  the  contribution,  on  the  basis  of  identified  best  programmes  and  practices,  to  the 
European  wide  take-up  of  successful  examples  in  information  society  policies,  projects 
and services, 

-  the  promotion  of  synergy  and  cooperation  between  ongoing  studies  and  activities  at 
European and national level, 

-  the  identification  and  evaluation  of  the  financing  mechanisms  needed  to  develop  the 
information  society,  in particular  those  able to help  stimulate  public/private  partnerships 
for the deployment of applications of public interest, 

- the identification  of obstacles to the functioning  of the Internal Market in the area of the 
information  society  and the consideration  of measures to guarantee the full  benefit  of the 
area without frontiers  for its development, 

- the launching of actions to ascertain the priorities of SME's and regarding  the  obstacles 
hampering  the  use  by  SME's  of  information  technologies,  in  close  coordination  with 
Commission efforts  to mobilise different  groups of ICT users, 

(c)  measures  to  take  into  consideration  and  make  use  of  the  global  dimension  of  the 
information  society: 

-  the  enhancement  of  visibility  of  the  global  dimension  of  the  information  society,  in 
particular  through  an  inventory  of  initiatives  taken  worldwide,  the  exchange  of 

information  with third  countries, and notably with developing  countries, and through  the 
collaboration  in  the  preparation  of  demonstration  actions,  either  bilaterally  or  in 
collaboration with international  organisations. 

ï 

Article 3 

In  carrying  out  the  objectives  outlined  in Article  1 and the  actions  defined  in  Article  2, 
the Commission can use any relevant means, and in particular: 

-  the  award  of  contracts  for  the  execution  of  tasks  relating  to  analyses,  exploratory 
studies, detailed  studies of specific fields, realization of demonstration  actions, as well  as 
the coordination, evaluation and co-financing  of actions; 

- the organization, the participation in and the granting of support for meetings of experts, 
conferences,  consultations  of  persons  or  of  groups  having  common  interests,  seminars, 
and the publication and the dissemination of  information; 

-  the  contribution  to  the  activities  of  international  organizations  in  relation  to  the 
information  society,  and  in  particular  those  aiming  to  encourage  the  access  of  the 
developing countries to the potential of the information  society. 

Article 4 

1.  The Commission  shall be responsible for the implementation of the programme. 

2.  The Commission  shall be assisted by a conimittee  of an advisory  nature  composed  of 
representatives  of  the  Member  States  and  chaired  by  the  representative  of  the 
Commission. 

The  representative  of  the  Commission  shall  submit  to  the  committee  a  draft  of  the 
measures  to  be taken.  The  committee  shall  deliver  its opinion  on the  draft  within  a time 
limit  which  the  chairman  may  lay  down  according  to  the  urgency  of  the  matter,  if 
necessary by taking a vote. 

The  opinion  shall  be recorded  in the minutes; in addition,  each Member  State  shall  have 
the right to request that its position be recorded in the minutes. 

The  Commission  shall  take  the  utmost  account  of  the  opinion  delivered  by  the 
committee.  It  shall  inform  the  committee  of  the  manner  in  which  its  opinion  has  been 
taken into account. 

The procedure laid down in Article 4 (2) shall apply to: 

Article 5 

- the adoption of the work programme, 

- breakdown of the budgetary  expenditure, 

- the criteria and content of calls for proposals, 

u 

-  the  assessment  of  the  projects  proposed  under  calls  for  proposals  for  Community 
funding  and the estimated amount of the Community contribution for each project where 
this is equal to or more than ECU 200.000, 

- the measures for programme evaluation, 

-  participation  in  any  project  by  legal  entities  from  third  countries  and  international 
organizations. 

Article 6 

A  mid-term  evaluation  report  on  the  activities  launched  and  results  obtained  will  be 
presented by the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council after  the first 
two years of the programme. Upon completion of the programme, the Commission shall 
present to the European  Parliament  and the Council  an evaluation  report on the results 
obtained through implementing the actions referred to in Article 2. 

This Decision is addressed to the Member States. 

Article 7 

Done at Brussels, 

For the Council 

The President. 

12. 

FINANCIAL  STATEMENT 

1. 

Title of Action 

Information  Society,  multiannual  Community  programme  to  stimulate  the  establishment 
of the information  society in Europe 

2. 

Budget Line 

B5-722: Information  Society 

3. 

Legal Basis 

- Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 235 

4. 

Description 

4. L 

General objectives of the action 

The  activities  foreseen  are  actions  with  regard  to  the  establishment  of  the  information 
society  in  Europe,  aimed  at  increasing  public  awareness  of  the  information  society, 
helping  to  establish  the  information  society  in  Europe,  and  considering  the  global 
dimension of the information  society. 

4.2.  Duration 

Legal basis with duration from  1  January  1997 to 31 December  2001. 

5. 

Classifications 

- Non-obligatory  expenditure 

- Dissociated  credits 

6. 

Nature of Spending 

-up to  100% funding: 

-  the  award  of  contracts  for  the  execution  of  tasks  relating  to  analyses,  exploratory 
studies, detailed  studies of specific  fields, realisation of demonstration  actions, as well 
as the coordination, evaluation and co-financing  of actions; 

-  the  organization,  the  participation  in  and  the  granting  of  support  for  meetings  of 
experts, conferences,  consultations  of persons  or  of groups  having  common  interests, 
seminars, for the publication and the dissemination of  information; 

-  the  contribution  to  the  activities  of  international  organizations  in  relation  to  the 
information  society,  and  in  particular  those  aiming  to  encourage  the  access  of  the 
developing countries to the potential of the information  society; 

i2> 

- Funding for co-financing  with other sources of the public and private sector: 

- Award of contracts for the co-financing  of actions. 

- Multiclient studies. 

Any  revenue  will  be  available  for  re-use, in accordance  with  Article  27  of the  Financial 
Regulation  of  21  December  1977  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the  European 
Communities (OJ No L356, 31.12.1977, p.l), as last amended by Regulation (ECSC, EC, 
Euratom) No 2335/95 (OJ No L240, 7.10.1995, p.12). 

7. 

Financial implication for commitment credits 

7.1.  Method of calculation of the cost of the action 

The  amount  of  appropriations  needed  takes  into  account  financial  parameters  derived 
from  past  experience  and  the  nature  of  the  actions  proposed  for  realising  the  specific 
objectives  defined  under  point  9.1. In  order  to  achieve  a  measurable  impact  in  the  15 
Member States with regard to the different  actions foreseen under the three action lines of 
the programme,  it  is necessary  to reach a significant  part of the target  populations.  Data 
about unit costs and  activity  levels  derived  from  the management  of budget  line  B5-722 
during  1995 and  1996 have been considered  in determining the amounts  indicated  in the 
following  table. 

For  example,  the  operation  of  a  major  consensus  forming  group  like  the  Information 
Society Forum and its sub-groups, as well as the publication of its results, represents  600 
KECU/year.  Awareness  projects  on  average  cost  250-500  KECU  (e.g.  "Schools  Adopt 
Monuments"  project).  Awareness  conferences  and  exhibitions  to  show  best  information 
society  applications  in the  administration  of  cities  require  a  Community  co-financing  in 
the  order  of  200  KECU  (e.g.  subvention  for  the  Barcelona  Conference).  An  awareness 
week  in  the  15  Member  States,  in  particular  addressed  to  SMEs,  and  with  the 
participation  and  co-financing  by  local  authorities,  requires  about  150  KECU.  Such 
actions have to be repeated several times in different  places with specific target groups in 
order to achieve a measurable  effect. 

7.2.  Breakdown  by elements of action 

The breakdown of commitment  appropriations by action line in MECU  (current prices) is 
indicated by the following  table: 

Breakdown 

Awareness 
Helping to 
establish the 
IS 
International 
TOTAL 

1996 
Budget 
3 
6 

2 
11* 

1997APB 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

4 
5 

1 
10 

3 
5 

1 
9 

3 
5 

1 
9 

3 
5 

1 
9 

2 
5 

1 
8 

1997-
2001 
15 
25 

5 
45 

* does not include  1,2 MECU transferred  from  1995 budget 

7.3. 

Indicative schedule for  commitment appropriations  (in MECU) 

14-

Year 

1996 

1997 

1998 

1999 

2000 

2001 

Commitment 
Credits 

11* 

10 

9 

9 

9 

8 

*does not include  1,2 MECU transferred  from  1995 budget 

TOTAL 
1997-2001 
45 

8. 

Anti-fraud  measures foreseen (and the result of their implementation) 

The  control  of  payments  for  any  services,  or  studies  requested,  is  carried  out  by  the 
Commission's  services prior to payment, taking  into account  any contractual  obligations, 
economic  principles  and  good  financial  or  management  practice.  Anti-fraud  provisions 
(supervision,  reporting  requirements,  etc.)  will  be  included  in  all  agreements  and 
contracts made between the Commission and the recipients of any payments. 

9. 

Elements of cost-effective  analysis 

9.1. 

Specific objectives and target population 

The programme  aims  at  increasing  public  awareness  and  understanding  of  the  potential 
impact  of  the  information  society  and  its  new  applications,  helping  to  establish  the 
information  society  in  Europe,  and  exploiting  the  global  dimension  of  the  information 
society.  These  objectives  shall  be  achieved  by  the  following  actions  under  three  action 
lines: 

(a) measures to raise awareness: 

-  the  dissemination  of  information  and  promotion  of  actions  aimed  at  a  better 
understanding of the opportunities, benefits  and possible risks of the information  society, 

- the gathering  and  identification  of citizens' and users' needs, and the  stimulation  of  the 
interest  of  industry,  in  particular  small  and  medium  sized  enterprises  (SME's),  in 
providing services and applications to meet these needs, 

- the  demonstration  of potential  impacts  of the  information  society  at regional  level,  the 
promotion  of  exchange  of  relevant  information  between  cities  and  regions,  and  giving 
visibility  to  the  general  public  on  concrete  projects  being  implemented  to  service  their 
needs, 

-  the  organization  and  follow-up  of  fora  on the  development  of  the  information  society, 
advising the Commission on the challenges to overcome, 

(b) measures to help establish the information  society in Europe: 

-  the  analysis  of  the  technical,  economic,  social  and  regulatory  aspects,  the  appraisal  of 
the  challenges  raised  by  the  transition  to  the  information  society,  as  well  as  the 
identification  of actions necessary  for the optimization of the socio-economic  benefits, 

- the assessment  of the opportunities  and barriers which disadvantaged  social  groups  and 
peripheral  and less favoured  regions may face  in accessing and using information  society 

|5 

products  and  services;  the  identification  of  appropriate  measures  to  overcome  these 
obstacles and to grasp the related  benefits, 

- the analysis of current initiatives at European and national level regarding the provision 
of applications,  based  in particular  on a permanent  inventory  of projects  which  facilitate 
the deployment of the information  society, 

- the provision of transparency, based in particular on a permanent  inventory,  concerning 
ongoing policies and programmes at European and national level, 

-  the  contribution,  on  the  basis  of  identified  best  programmes  and  practices,  to  the 
European  wide  take-up  of  successful  examples  in  information  society  policies,  projects 
and services, 

-  the  promotion  of  synergy  and  cooperation  between  ongoing  studies  and  activities  at 
European and national level, 

-  the  identification  and  evaluation  of  the  financing  mechanisms  needed  to  develop  the 
information  society,  in particular those able to help  stimulate  public/private  partnerships 
for the deployment of applications of public interest, 

- the identification  of obstacles to the functioning  of the Internal Market in the area of the 
information  society and the consideration of measures to guarantee the full  benefit  of the 
area without frontiers  for its development, 

- the launching  of actions to ascertain the priorities of SME's and regarding the  obstacles 
hampering  the  use  by  SME's  of  information  technologies,  in  close  coordination  with 
Commission efforts  to mobilise different  groups of ICT users, 

(c)  measures  to  take  into  consideration  and  make  use  of  the  global  dimension  of  the 
infomation  society: 

-  the  enhancement  of  visibility  of  the  global  dimension  of  the  information  society,  in 
particular  through  an  inventory  of  initiatives  taken  worldwide,  the  exchange  of 
information  with third  countries, and notably with developing  countries, and through  the 
collaboration  in  the  preparation  of  demonstration  actions,  either  bilaterally  or  in 
collaboration with international  organisations. 

The  support  actions  include the commissioning  of  analyses and  studies; the  organization 
and  the  granting  of  support  for  meetings  of  experts,  seminars,  conferences  and 
consultations;  the  realisation  of  demonstration  actions; the  coordination,  evaluation  and 
co-financing  of actions; the publication  and the dissemination  of information;  as well  as 
the contribution to the relevant activities of international organizations. 

Target  audience:  users, undertakings,  national, regional  and  local  administrations,  social 
partners, volontary  organisations. 

9.2. 

Justification  of the action 

- Necessity  of a financial  intervention by the Community 

The political authorities have recognized that the Community should play a major role in 
the establishment of the information society. The growing world-wide activity in the field 
of the information society, in particular the major studies launched by the OECD and the 
interest  shown  by  the  G7  countries,  have  considerably  broadened  the  scope  of  the 
activities undertaken so far in the context of the development of the telecommunications 
policy  and  the  trans-European  information  networks.  This  broader  concept  of  the 
"information  society",  the  globalization  of  the  efforts  undertaken  to  create  the 
information society, considered in particular as a means to remedy unemployment, makes 
it necessary to explore new perspectives and to stimulate new activities. 

The actions foreseen take account of the principle of subsidiarity between the Community 
and the Member States and between public and private sector roles. In line with article 3b 
of the Treaty establishing the European Community, the actions are only directed at those 
areas  where  there  is  added  value  at  European  level.  Apart  from  financial  support  for 
specific  activities  with  a  European  dimension,  the  Commission  will  encourage  the 
cooperation between various organisations in joint demonstration actions. 

To ensure that the  actions fit into the global  context,  specific  attention will  be  given to 
linking  them  to  the  recent  G7  initiatives  and to  the  relevant  activities  of  international 
organizations such as the OECD. 

- Choice of modalities  of intervention 

Experience from management of oudget line B5-722 in 1995 and 1996 has shown that the 
means of  intervention  as outlined under point  6  are to be considered  the most  effective 
for the actions  envisaged  under this programme, e.g.  as regards visibility  and multiplier 
effect. 

9.3. 

Follow-up  and evaluation of the action 

A  mid-term  evaluation  report  on  the  activities  launched  and  results  obtained  will  be 
presented by the  Commission to the European Parliament and the Council  after the first 
two years of the programme. 

Upon  completion  of  the  programme,  the  Commission  shall  present  to  the  European 
Parliament  and  the  Council  an  evaluation  report  on  the  results  obtained  through 
implementing the actions. 

\y 

10.  Administrative expenditure 

The  effective  mobilisation  of  administrative  resources  necessary  will  result  from  the 
annual  decision  by  the  Commission  regarding  the  allocation  of  resources,  taking  into 
account  in  particular  the  number  of  staff  available  and  increases  authorized  by  the 
budgetary authority. Additional staff,  if available, would be recruited by DG III and DG 
XIII  during  1997  and  1998  and  allocated  in  the  Information  Society  Activity  Centre, 
which  is jointly  managed  by  DG  III  and  DG  XIII.  If  no  extra  resources  would  be 
allocated,  it  may  still  be  possible  to  manage  this  programme.  However,  it  must  be 
acknowledged that in such conditions some of the objectives may not be fully achieved. 

10.1 

Impact on the number of Commission staff 

Personnel 

Staff  necessary 

of  which 

permanent staff 

temporary  staff 

by  utilization 
of  existing 
resources 

through 
additional 
resources 

Officials  or 
temporary  agents 

A 
B 
C 

14 
4 
5 

Other  ressources 

10.2  Additional staff 

10A 
2B 
4C 

4A 
2B 
1C 

Amounts 

Method of calculation (per year) 

Officials or 
temporary agents 

4Â 
2B 
1C 

X112 KECU = 448 
X 71 KECU = 142 
X 46 KECU = 46 

Total  7 

636,000 ECU 

10.3.  Administrative expenditure involved 

Budget line 

Amounts per year 

Method of calculation 

A-1300 (missions) 
A-1701 (receptions) 
A-1178 (eval.) 
A-2510 (committee) 
A-2550 (confer.) 
A-5 
A-34 

Total 

117,600 
5,000 
52,500 
135,000 
30,000 
145,000 
30,000 

515,100 

7 missions X 14A X 1,2 KECU 

15 extra muros experts X 10 days X 350 ECU/day 
2X15 extra muros experts X 5 meetings X 900 ECU 

(S 

BUDGET LINE B5-722 

EX-ANTE EVALUATION REPORT 

During  1995  and  1996  a number  of actions  were tentatively  developed  under  budget 
line B5-722 (Information  Society) in the following  areas: 

•  Analysis of current developments and trends, 
•  Awareness raising actions, 
•  Demonstration actions and exchange of experience, 
•  Exchange of information  with third countries. 

These actions allowed the following  conclusions to be drawn: 

•  A  considerable  lack  of  awareness  of  the  impact,  risks  and  opportunities  of  the 

information  society needs to be addressed, 

•  Pilot projects  and  demonstration  actions  can indeed  boost  confidence  of users  and 
help  them  to  better  express  their  needs,  thereby  creating  additional  demand  for 
information  society services and applications, 

•  Exchange  of  information  with  third  countries  confirmed  a  world-wide  interest  in 
participating  in the development  of the information  society,  and also  opportunities 
for the European Union to play a leading role in this development. 

If  further  EU  actions  along  these  lines  shall  be  taken,  they  need  to  cover  all  15 
Member  States  and  cut  across  all  strata  of  society  in  order  to  achieve  a  measurable 
impact.  Data  about  unit  costs  and  activity  levels  derived  from  the  management  of 
budget  line  B5-722  during  1995  and  1996  have  been  considered  in  determining  the 
amounts indicated in the Financial  Statement. 

The  operation  of  a  major  consensus  forming  group  like  the  Information  Society 
Forum  and  its  sub-groups,  as  well  as  the  publication  of  its  results,  represents  600 
KECU/year. 

Major  awareness  conferences  and  exhibitions  involving  European-wide  participation 
of delegates  and organisations, e.g. to express the view of ICT users organisations, or 
to  show best  information  society  applications in the administration  of cities, require a 
Community co-financing  in the order of 200 KECU (e.g. subvention for the Barcelona 
Conference).  Three  or  four  major  conferences  a  year  are  recommendable. 
Furthermore,  smaller  local awareness  actions are needed, to be repeated  several  times 
in  different  places  (more than  one per Member  State, especially  in the  case  of  larger 
Member  States)  with  specific  target  groups,  e.g.  SMEs,  schools,  housewives, 
professional  associations, small communities, etc. 

An  awareness  week  in  the  15 Member  States,  in  particular  addressed  to  SMEs,  like 
the  one  carried  out  in  1996,  with  the  participation  and  co-financing  by  local 
authorities, requires about  150 KECU. 

Awareness  and  demonstration  projects  involving  at  least  two  partners  in  different 
member  states  require  on  average  an  EU  participation  of  250-500  KECU  (e.g. 
"Schools  Adopt  Monuments"  project).  To  have  significant  impact,  coherence  and 
visibility  throughout  the  EU,  and  to  trigger  a  multiplier  or  imitation  effect,  it  is 
estimated that it would be necessary to launch at least  12 to  15 such projects per year 
within the EU, and couple them to awarenss actions for the dissemination of results. 

Finally,  limited  and  focused  studies,  to  analyse  development  trends  or  gather 
feedback, evaluate and measure the impact of the above actions, should account for up 
to 200 KECU a year (e.g. Eurobarometre survey on Information Society costs approx. 
50 KECU per year). 

Xo 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(96) 592 final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

16  01 

Catalogue number  :  CB-CO-96-590-EN-C 

ISBN 92-78-11638-6 

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