Communication from the Commission on the social and labour market dimension of the Information Society - People first - The next steps
Date: 1997-07-23
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: EU employment policy, information technology, labour market, social policy

COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 23.07.1997 
COM(97) 390 final 

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION 

ON 

THE SOCIAL AND LABOUR MARKET  DIMENSION 
OF THE 
INFORMATION SOCIETY 

People First - The Next Steps 

The  Social  and  Labour  Market  Dimension 
of  the  Information  Society 

People  First  - The  Next  Steps 

CONTENTS 

Executive  Summary 

I. 

II. 

People  First  - the  next  steps  : the  purpose  of  this  Communication 

An  Information  Society  for  All 

1.  Access  to  the  Information  Society  : public  policies  can  make  the 

difference 

2.  Enhancing  Democracy  and  Public  Services 
3.  Information  Society  for  gender  equality 
4. Technology  for  the  benefit  of  people  with  disabilities 
5.  Supporting  the  development  of  healthcare  systems 

III.  Working  in the  Information  Society 

1.  Flexibility  and  security:  getting  the  right  balance 
2.  Data  protection  of  employees 
3.  Creating  an  adequate  framework  for  telework 
4.  Supporting  Social  Dialogue  as an  instrument  for  change 
5.  Health  and  Safety  at  work 

IV. 

Turning  the  opportunities  into jobs 

1.  Understanding  the  changes  in employment  and  production 
2.  Exploiting  the  potential  for  new  jobs 
3.  Skills  for  living  and  working 
4.  ICT  and  the  modernising  of  Public  Employment  Services 

V. 

The  Social  Dimension  of  the  Information  Society  - the  way  forward 

Annexe:  Glossary  of  acronyms 

Executive  Summary 

The  Information  Society  represents  one  of  the  most  fundamental  changes  of  our  time 
with  enormous  opportunities  for  society  as  a  whole.  But  the  scale  and  pace  of  change 
also  present  challenges  for 
individuals  and  certain  groups  of  citizens  and  regions. 
Therefore,  the  social  and  labour  market  dimensions  of  the  Information  Society  need 
in  the 
greater  prominence  within  public  debate  and  public  policy,  as  pointed  out 
Commission's  Agenda  2 0 0 0. 

In  order  to  underline  the  importance  of  the  social  dimension,  the  Commission  appointed 
in  1995  a  High  Level  Experts  Group  and  an  Information  Society  Forum.  The  Commission 
presented  in  1996  a  Green  Paper  Living  and  Working 
in  the  Information  Society:  People 
First  as  an  invitation  to  political,  social  and  civil  dialogue.  The  Green  Paper  produced  a 
sustained  debate  on  the  social  and  labour  market  issues  and  stressed  the  need  for 
integrated  policy  responses  across  different  areas  of  government. 

This  Communication  summarises  the  progress  made  to  integrate  the  social  dimension 
into  the  development  of  policies  for  the  Information  Society  and  presents  the  challenges 
that  lie  ahead  in  reconciling  social,  economic  and  technological  goals.  It  forms  part  of 
the  rolling  action  plan  Europe  at  the  Forefront  of  the  Global  Information  Society. 
It  has 
three  main  purposes:  to  increase  awareness  of  the  social  implications  of  the  Information 
Society,  to  build  in  an  Information  Society  dimension,  where  appropriate,  into  social 
the 
policies  and  actions,  and 
contribution  of  the  Information  Society  to  promoting  employment  and  inclusion. 

identify  specific  actions  designed 

to  maximise 

to 

1.  Common  principles  for  the  development  of  the  Information  Society 

The  Green  Paper  People  First  proposed  a  set  of  common  principles,  based  on  the  ideas 
and  values  which  have  shaped  the  European  Union,  to  guide  the  public  policies  for  the 
Information  Society.  These  principles  were  broadly  supported  during  the  consultation 
process.  The  Commission  suggests  that  public  policies  in  the  Information  Society  field 
should  have  as  basic  aims  to 

improve  access  to  information 

• 
•  enhance  democracy  and  social  justice 
•  promote  employability  and  lifelong  learning 
•  strengthen  the  capacity  of  the  EU  economy  to  achieve  high  and  sustainable  growth 

and  employment 

•  achieve  and  enhance  equal  opportunity  between  men  and  women 
•  promote 

inclusion  and  support  people  with  special  needs  and 

those 

lacking 

opportunities  to  improve  their  position 
improve  the  quality  and  efficiency  of  public  administration. 

• 

2.  Access  to  ICT 

in  learning,  working  and  living 

to 

the 

the 

is  of 

tools  of 

importance 

fundamental 

Information  Society 

for 
Access 
achieving 
the  goals  of  equity  and  efficiency  set  out  above.  Access  has  different 
dimensions:  availability,  continuity,  affordability,  accessibility  and  awareness.  How  well 
these  dimensions  are  dealt  with  will  tilt  the  balance  towards  an  inclusive  or  exclusive 
society.  Public  policies  can  make  the  difference.  The  Commission  therefore  urges  that 
the  Member  States  make  access  a  main  objective 
in  the  development  of  national 
information  strategies.  The  Commission  will  address  this  issue  in  its  forthcoming  review 
of  the  scope,  quality,  level,  and  affordability  of  universal  service.  It  will  also  organise 
exchange  of  experience,  discussions,  evaluation  and  benchmarking  of  strategies  and 
policies  in  particular  those  facilitating  access.  In  line  with  the  views  expressed  by  the 
European  Parliament,  the  Commission  will  invite  collaboration  with  the  other  Community 
to  public 
Institutions 
information.  The  question  of  gender  balance  in  the  Information  Society  must  be  given 
more  attention  to  ensure  that  the  potential  benefits  are  equally  shared  and  to  avoid  the 
risk  of  reinforcing  existing  segregations.  The  Commission  will  further  develop  initiatives 
at  various  levels  to  improve  access  to  ICT  for  people  with  disability  and  to  promote 
awareness  of  the  potential  of  ICT  to  improve  health  systems.  The  Commission  has 
proposed  that  the  creation  of  a  user-friendly  Information  Society  be  one  of  the  key 
objectives  of  the  forthcoming  5th  RTD  Framework  Programme. 

to  draw  up  a  communication  strategy 

facilitating  access 

3.  Flexibility  and  security  in  working  life 

learning  organisation  of  work.  Parallel  with 

ICT  offer  great  potential  for  improved  productivity  and  thereby  prosperity  through  new 
ways  of  work  organisation.  The  Green  Paper  People  First  introduced  the  concept  of  a 
new  balance  between  flexibility  for  enterprises  and  security  for  workers  as  a  basis  for 
such  a  modern  organisation  of  work.  The  Commission  has  taken  this 
forward 
through  the  new  Green  Paper  on  Partnership 
for  a  New  Organisation  of  Work  in  order  to 
stimulate  the  social  partners  to  develop  a framework  for  a  more  productive,  participative 
and 
this  debate,  the  Commission  has 
proposed  to  strengthen  European  research  on  new  organisation  of  work  under  the  5th 
RTD  Framework  Programme.  A  European  network  of  national  institutes  in  this  field  will 
be  developed.  The  Commission  will  present  a  Communication  in  1998  analysing  the 
situation  regarding  the  privacy  of  data  on  employees.  The  Commission  will 
initiate 
consultations  with  the  social  partners  regarding  the  framework  for  developing  telework; 
and  enhance  the  role  of  social  dialogue  to  facilitate  structural  change  and  develop  ICT  as 
a  tool  for  policies  for  health  and  safety  at  work. 

idea 

4.  Employability  for  more  and  better  jobs 

The  creation  of  more  and  better  jobs  is  one  of  the  most  pressing  needs  for  the  Member 
States  in  the  EU.  Modernisation  of  the  economies  and  improvement  of  productivity  are 
prerequisites.  The  use  of  ICT  is  a  key  question.  However,  a  fundamental  structural 
obstacle  for  employment  growth  is  the  slow  adjustment  of  skills  to  new  economic  and 
technological  structures.  This  is  why  the  European  employment  strategy,  reinforced  by 
the  European  Council  in  Amsterdam,  increasingly  emphasises  employability  as  a  key  to 
improve  the  functioning  of  the  labour  markets.  A  new  culture  of  life-long  education, 
training  and 
restructuring  of  public 
required,  supported  by  selective 
expenditures  in  favour  of  investment  in  human  resources.  The  Commission  will  continue 
to  support  human  resource  investment  through  Objective  4  of  the  European  Social  Fund 

learning 

is 

Information  and  Communication  Technologies. 

and  the  Community 
Initiative  ADAPT.  A  further  allocation  of  162  MECU  has  been  made 
for  the  period  1997-99. 
for  the  purpose  of  Building  the  Information  Society  (ADAPT-BIS) 
The  Commission  is  also  supporting  measures  to  exploit  the  employment  potential  of  the 
social  economy.  To  improve  the  functioning  of  the  labour  market  the  Commission  will 
encourage  the  development  and  use  of  ICT  to  modernise  Public  Employment  Services 
and  the  linking  of  national  vacancy  systems  via  EURES. 

5.  Action  at  national,  European  and  international  level 

The  last  chapter  summarises  how  the  Commission  will  strengthen  the  social  dimension 
through  action  at  all  levels: 

•  at  national  and  regional  level,  where  the  Commission  will  provide  support  to 

the 
Member  States  to  integrate  a  strong  social  dimension  in  the  ongoing  development  of 
their  Information  Society  strategies 

•  at  Community  level,  where  the  Commission  will  mainstream  the  social  dimension  in 
all  relevant  Community  policies  and  exploit  the  potential  of  the  ICT  as  a  tool  in 
employment  and  social  policies 

•  at 

international 

level,  where 

the  appropriate 
international  fora  the  development  and  use  of  technologies  which  can  help  improve 
social  cohesion  and  the  improvement  of  living,  learning  and  working  conditions  for  all 
groups  in  society. 

the  Commission  will  promote 

in 

I. 

People  First  - the  next  steps:  the  purpose  of this  Communication 

1.  The  development  of  the  Information  Society  offers  enormous  opportunities  to  improve  the  way  in 
which  Europeans  live  and  work.  But  the  scale  and  pace  of  technological  change  in  an  increasingly 
global  economy  also  present  a number  of  challenges  for  our  societies. The  process  of  change  has  to 
be  managed  in  a  way  that  promotes  trust  and  confidence  in  the  possibilities  of  the  Information 
Society  to  improve  people's  quality  of  life.  The  Commission  highlighted  the  importance  of  these 
issues  in its  1994  Action  Plan Europe's  way  to  the Information  Society,  and  in July  1996  presented 
a Green Paper Living and Working in the Infonnation Society: People Firsi. 

2.  The  Green Paper  sought  comments  on how  best to  reap the  full  benefits  of  the  Information  Society, 
in  particular  in  the  areas  of  work  organisation,  employment,  and  social  cohesion,  and  invited 
reflection  on a set  of  common  principles  for  the  development  of  the  Information  Society  in Europe. It 
also drew  on the  work  of  two  independent  groups  set  up  by the  Commission:  a High  Level  Group  of 
Experts  (HLGE)  on  the  social  aspects  of  the  Information  Society  and  a  broadly  based  Information 
Society  Forum  (ISF). The  first  reports  of  both  groups  were  published  as complements  to  the  Green 
Paper,  and in April  1997 the  HLGE presented its  Final Report  , which  underpins this  Communication. 

3.  The  consultation  process 

-  which  was  officially  launched  at  a  Colloquium  in  Dublin  in  September 
19964  - triggered  a  lively  debate  at  three  interrelated  levels:  political  dialogue,  social  dialogue,  and 
civil  dialogue.  In total,  more  than  130  responses  were  submitted5,  of  which  more  than  4 0%  came 
from  Non-Governmental  Organisations  (NGOs).  The  debate  has  demonstrated  broad  agreement 
around the following  points: 

• 

if  the  Information  Society  is  to  be  to  the  benefit  of  all, it  needs  to  develop  with  a  strong  social 
dimension,  not  only  integrating  social  policy  into  the  Information  Society,  but  also  using  the 
Information  Society  as a tool to  promote  a more inclusive and learning  society; 

•  particular  attention  is  needed  to  avoid  the  risk  that  the  Information  Society  might  exacerbate 
existing  divisions  within  society.  People  are  concerned  about  how  it  will  affect  their  jobs  and 
about the risks of  creating  a society  of  information  "haves"  and  "have  nots"; 

•  while  the  move  to  the  Information  Society  is essentially  market-driven,  public  authorities  have  an 
role  to  play  in  shaping  this  process,  striking  a  balance  between  policies  to  enhance 

important 
equality  of  opportunity  and security  and policies to  promote flexibility  and  adaptability; 

•  while  prime responsibility  rests  with the  Member  States, the  EU has an important  role to  play. 

4.  This  Communication  -  which  forms  part  of  the  Commission's  Rolling  Action  Plan  Europe  at  the 
Forefront  of  the  Global Information  Society 
- sets  out  the  Commission's  strategy  to  further  develop 
the  social  dimension  of  the  Information  Society,  in  particular  in the  context  of  Agenda  2000.  It  has 
three  main purposes: 

• 

• 

• 

to  co-ordinate the  process  of increasing awareness of  the  labour  market  and social  implications  of 
the  Information  Society; 
to  build in an Information Society dimension,  where  appropriate,  into  social  policies  and  actions, 
especially  at  European level; 
to  identify specific actions designed  to  maximise  the  contribution  of  the  Information  Society  to 
promoting  employment  and social inclusion. 

1  The  regional  dimension  of  the  Information  Society  has  been  covered  in  the  Commission  Communication  Cohesion  and 

the 

Information  Society  COM  (  97)  7. 

2  Building 

the  Information  Society 

for  Us  All.  First  Reflections  of  the  High  Level  Group  of  Experts,  January  1 9 9 6;  Networks 

for 

People  and  their  Communities. 

First  Annual  Report  from  the  Information  Society  Forum.  June  1 9 9 6. 

3  Bui/ding 
4  The  documents  Report  on  the  Dub/in  Colloquium  and  Source  Document  on  the  Dublin  Colloquium  present  a  summary  and  the 

for  Us  All.  Final  Report  of  the  High  Level  Group  of  Experts,  April  1 9 9 7. 

the  Information  Society 

details  of  the  discussions  held  during  the  Conference,  in  situ  and  in  the  w eb  site  created  for  this  occasion. 

5  A  detailed  account  of  the  responses  officially  submitted  will  be  published  by  the  Commission  as  a  separate  document. 

2 5 , 0 00  printed  copies  were  distributed,  and  the  web  site  was  accessed  about  2 0 , 0 00  times. 

6  COM  ( 9 6 ) 6 07 

1 

5. 

In particular,  it  builds  on the  common principles set  out  in the  Green  Paper  -  and  broadly  supported 
during  the  consultation  -  which  suggested  that  public  policies  for  the  Information  Society  should 
have as basic aims to: 

facilitate  access to  information; 

• 
•  enhance democracy  and social justice; 
•  promote employability  and lifelong learning; 
•  strengthen  the  capacity  of  the  EU  economy  to  achieve  high  and  sustainable  growth  and 

employment; 

•  achieve and enhance equal opportunity  between men and women; 
•  promote  inclusion  and  support  people  with  special  needs  and  those  lacking  opportunities  to 

improve their position; 
improve the quality  and efficiency  of  public  administration. 

• 

6.  Member  States  have 

responsibilities 

the  main  policy 

this 
Communication.  During the  consultation  the  Commission  held meetings  with  the  Member  States  to 
exchange  information  about  current  initiatives.  A  significant  number  have  developed  strategic  plans 
or  programmes  for  the  Information  Society  , a further  group  are drafting  green  papers  which  should 
be  followed  by  concrete  action  plans8  and  the  rest  have  initiatives,  projects  or  programmes 
promoting  research or the  implementation  of  applications  in particular  areas. The  main social  aspects 
considered  relate  to  access,  education  and  training,  electronic  access  to  Government  information, 
preservation of  cultural heritage and demonstration projects of  applications  of  public  interest. 

the  matters  addressed 

for 

in 

7.  The  co-existence  of  local,  regional,  national  and  European  strategies  and  initiatives  calls  for 
complementarity  and co-ordination  of  the different  actions. The Commission, for  its  part, through  its 
own  strategy  and  programmes,  can  contribute  to  the  development  of  the  social  dimension  of  the 
Information  Society  by: 

taking specific  initiatives in its areas of  responsibility; 
taking account of the  Information Society within social policy  and other  policies; 

•  supporting the  Member  States in developing  and implementing their  strategies  and programmes; 
• 
• 
•  ensuring that social needs are fully taken into consideration in the Community  RTD programmes9; 
•  acting at international level. 

8.  The  European  Strategy  for  the  Information  Society  established  in  1994  has  already  been  proved 
successful and has had a strong  impact  in many  policy  areas, both at  European and national level. In 
order to grasp the opportunities  offered by the Information Society, the Commission  believes that  the 
social  dimension  needs  to  be  further  strengthened.  That  was  the  stimulus  behind  the  Green  Paper 
People First.  This Communication  sets out the Commission's future strategy  in this area. 

H.  An  Information  Society  for  All 

11.1  Access to the Information Society: public policies can make the difference 

9. 

In  order  to  reap  both  the  economic  and  social  benefits  of  technological  progress  and  to  improve 
people's  quality  of 
life,  the  Information  Society  must  be  based  on  the  principles  of  equal 
opportunities, participation  and integration of  all. This  can only  happen if  everybody  has  access to  at 
least a basic set of the new  services and applications  offered  by the  Information  Society. Access  has 
different  dimensions:  availability,  continuity,  affordability,  accessibility,  and  awareness.  How  well 

Belgium,  Denmark,  Germany,  Ireland,  Luxembourg,  The  Netherlands,  Finland,  Sweeden  and  United  Kingdom. 
Spain,  Portugal  and  Austria. 
The  Commission  has  proposed  that  one  of  the  technological  and  scientific  objectives  of  the  forthcoming  5 th  RTD  Framework 
Programme  be  the  creation  of  a  user-friendly  Information  Society. 

these  dimensions  are  dealt  with  will  tilt  the  balance  towards  an  inclusive  or  an  exclusive  society. 
Public policies can make the  difference. 

10.  Modern  infrastructure,  applications  and services  should be available at affordable  prices.  Industry  will 
maximise  its  efforts  in this  respect  if  Governments  provide  an adequate  regulatory  framework  which 
promotes  fair  competition  and  innovation.  For  this  to  happen,  Member  States  must  respect  the 
timetable  agreed  for  the  liberalisation  of  telecommunication  markets,  which  will  increase  the 
competitiveness  of  the  télécoms  sector  and  of  the  economy  as  a  whole,  opening  up  new 
opportunities  for  the  private  sector  to  deliver  new  applications  and  services.  In  order  to  ensure  that 
all  regions  benefit  from  the  liberalisation  process,  the  Commission  has  recommended  that  Member 
States  give  priority to the completion  and upgrading of  telecom  networks  and supplement  them  with 
demand stimulation  measures 

. 

11.  The  Commission  has  also  encouraged  Member  States  to  reflect  on  the  scope  of  universal  service 
and  on  the  concept  of  public  access.  The  inclusion  by  the  Amsterdam  Treaty  of  a  new  article  on 
services  of  general  economic  interest  underlines  the  importance  of  this  issue,  in  particular  for 
disadvantaged groups and those living in rural and peripheral regions. Technological  development  and 
liberalisation processes  have reduced dramatically  the cost  of  storing, processing  and transmission  of 
data.  However  the  price  of  communications  and  ICT  hardware  and  software  can  still  be  a  barrier. 
The  availability  of  personal  computers  and  Internet  access  in  the  home  remains  predominantly  the 
preserve of those with  higher income and educational  attainment  levels. 

12.  This  rapidly  changing  technological  context  means  that  universal  service  is  a dynamic  and  evolving 
concept  which  must  be  kept  under  review  if  it  is  to  respond  to  people's  needs  and  expectations. 
Access  to  advanced  services  and  applications  through  public  access  points  such  as  libraries, 
schools,  and other  community  meeting  points  is regarded  by  some  as  a proxy  to  universal  services. 
In  a  similar  vein,  the  HLGE  recommends  investigation  of  the  concept  of  "universal  community 
service",  extending  universal  service  provision  so  as  to  incorporate  a  basic  level  of  access  to  new 
information  services,  but  limiting  its  universality  obligation  to  some  institutions.  Furthermore,  the 
Competitiveness  Advisory  Group  has  recommended  the  creation  of  knowledge  resource  centres  to 
facilitate  access to  knowledge  on the  new technologies  and the skills  required11. 

13.  Equal  access  is  predicated  on  accessibility.  IT  hardware  and  services  should  be  designed  in  such  a 
way  that  they  do  not  discriminate  against  certain  groups,  raising  barriers  and  excluding  them  from 
their  use. The concept  of  "universal  design"  may  provide  ways  forward12  and  research  programmes 
and  industry  should  strengthen  their  efforts  to  address  the  barriers  presented  by  inappropriate 
design.  More  generally,  the  user-friendliness  of  software  and  hardware  is  decisive,  especially  for 
elderly  people who  may face  problems  in accessing the  new  technological  environment.  For  instance 
accessing  the  Internet  via  TV  could  enable  many  more  people  to  use  the  new  services  of  the 
Information  Society. 

14.  Access  also  depends  on  people's  awareness  of  the  possibilities  offered  by  the  Information  Society. 
Effective  and  equitable  awareness-building  requires  that  people  are  trained  in  the  use  of  the  new 
technologies  and that  ICT be introduced  into  our  educational  systems,  especially  in schools. There  is 
some  evidence  of  low  public  awareness  of  the  technologies  and  how  to  participate  in  the 
Information  Society,  particularly  among  women,  unemployed  and  non-office  workers.  Raising  ICT 
awareness  among  older  people  is  becoming  increasingly  important,  in  particular  in  the  context  of 
demographic  trends,  lifelong  learning  and the  establishment  of  flexible  paths  of  transition  from  work 
to  retirement.  Some  Member  States  are  targeting  particular  groups  through  awareness  campaigns. 
The  Commission's  recent  call  for  proposals  of  the  multiannual  programme  on  Information  Society 

Communication  from  the  Commission  Cohesion  and  the  Information  Society,  COM  (97)  7 
Competitiveness  Advisory  Group,  December  1 9 9 5. 

1  Enhancing  European  Competitiveness. 
2  For  instance,  the  Danish  Government  is  developing  pilot  activities  for  promoting  co-operation  to  develop  "universal  design" 
IT  products  and  services. 

focuses  on  studies,  demonstration  actions  and  other  accompanying  measures  including  actions 

targeted at specific social groups  . 

13 

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:discussions^  • evaluation k ahd ':  benchmarking  of 

access.- :  : 

• :.|.;>;:Wi : examine\ thi;le|É§|||.llin|vyied||;::resource^centres;to •facilitate:  access 
:;/:;;.v';'^ 

U.2.  Enhancing Democracy and Public Services 

to 

information,  allowing 

flourish  alongside  more  traditional 

15.  The  advent  of  network  based  communications  such  as the  Internet  has  allowed  much  simpler  and 
international 
cheaper  dissemination  of 
communication 
the 
development  and image of  a vigorous  Information  Society  will  be hampered  if  existing  standards  and 
practice  in  the  public  media  are  flouted,  for  example  by  undermining  pluralism,  or  by  permitting 
uncontrolled  access  to  violent,  racist,  or  pornographic  material  on the  Internet.  The  Commission  has 
addressed  this  latter  issue  in  its  Green  Paper  on  the  protection  of  minors  and  human  dignity  in  the 
and  in  its  Communication  on  illegal  and  harmful  content  on 
information  and  audio-visual  services 
the  Internet15. 

forms  of  mass  media.  However, 

regional,  national,  and 

local, 

16.  There  is  also  the  issue  of  open  government  and  the  way  public  policies  can  exploit  the  potential  of 
ICT  to  support  democratic  processes  and  rights,  for  example  by  developing  electronic  democracy, 
enhancing  access  to  public  documentation,  and  by  developing  specific  services  for  groups  lacking 
ready  access to  information  (eg migrant  workers  and their  dependants). The  benefits  of  including  the 
European  institutions  in open government  initiatives  would  be substantial  and therefore  specific  pilot 
initiatives should be launched. Public info-kiosks and access points can play  a vital role in bridging  the 
gap  in  providing  access  to  information  for  public  service  purposes.  Closer  and  more  effective 
interaction  with  government  at  local  and  regional  level  may  be  one  of  the  most  rapid  ways  of 
demonstrating  the  potential  of  the  Information  Society.  Some  regions  and  localities  have  already 
formed  networks  to  learn,  to  inform  and  to  exchange  developments.  Initiatives  such  as  IRIS 
Initiative16,  the  RISI17  pilot  projects  and  the  Bangemann  Challenge^8  competition  have  contributed 
substantially  to  raising awareness  and to dissemination of  good practice  examples. 

17.  The  Commission  is  preparing  a  Green  Paper  on  Access 

to  and  Exploitation  of  Public  Sector 
Information  to  stimulate discussion  on the options for  Community  policy  action to  ensure the  respect 
of  the  rights of  people to  have access to  public  sector  information  and the  conditions  for  commercial 

J  Cf.  Call  for  Proposals  97/C  148  /  07  of  the  Commission.  O.J.  N°  C  148/1 5  of  1 6 . 5 . 9 7. 
1  COM  (96)  4 86 
'[  COM  (96)  4 87 
3  Inter-Regional  Information  Society  Initiative,  gathering  Valencia,  Piamonte,  Central  Macedonia,  Saxony,  Nord  Pas-de-Calais 
and  North  West  England,  to  build  strategies  for  shaping  the  Information  Society  in  these  regions  and  exchange  experiences. 

Regional  Information  Society 

Initiative  projects  carried  out  in  the  framework  of  article  6  of 

the  European  Social  Fund 

Regulation  and  article  10  of  the  European  Regional  Development  Fund  Regulation. 
3  Competition  in  the  use  of  information  technologies  in  cities  of  similar  size,  launched  by  the  City  of  Stockholm  in  1 9 9 4. 

use  and  exploitation.  The  Commission  is  carrying  out  activities  under  various  programmes  (e.g. 
IDA19,  lnfo-2000  and  other  programmes  within  the  RTD  Framework  Programmes)  to  contribute  to 
developing telematic  applications for  public  administrations. 

Objective: 

Promote innovative use of  ICT Irt publie  services  arid encourage nigh standards  af 
practice ma  «ornent wrthb Imernet-based data and «©vices 

Afey actions: 

» 

The Commission wilt: 
•  collaborate,  following  the  views  of  the  European  Parliament,20  with  the  other 
European Institutions to  draw  up  a communication  and information strategy  to 
facilitate access to the institutions for the public and orgar»satk*ns; 
invite Member  $tate$, following the Council  Resolution of  17  February  19&721, 
to  encourage  systems  of  self«regulation to  safeguard  against  harmful  material 
on  the  Internet  -  co-ordinating  at  EU  level  exchange  of  best  practice  and  the 
promotion of  research on techniques to support the work  of  such organisations; 
*  present  in  the  first  half  of  1998,  following  the  debate  on  the  Access  to  and 
Exploitation  of  Public  Sector  Information  Green  Paper,  a  Communication  with 
proposals for action. 

11.3.  Information Society for gender  equality 

18. 

The  Information  Society  provides  a real opportunity  to  promote  gender  equality  and reshape  working 
and everyday  life. However,  greater  efforts  need to  be made to  ensure that  the potential  benefits  are 
realised  and to  avoid the  risk  of  reinforcing  existing types  of  segregation. At  present,  as a  relatively 
low  number  of  women  pursue  studies  in science  and technology,  women  have  less  chances to  reap 
the employment  benefits of  new  technologies  (e.g. in terms  of  high-skilled jobs  in the  ICT industries, 
where  women  are  underrepresented).  This  requires  further  efforts  to  promote  familiarialisation  with 
ICT  in schools  in ways  that  are not  gender  biased  and to  boost  skills  levels  (see section  IV.3),  while 
also promoting  flexibility  in working time  and security for  workers 

. 

19. 

ICT can also contribute to the dissemination of  a more positive and diversified image of  women,  help 
to  change  mentalities,  and  assist  women  to  participate  more  actively 
in  the  production  of 
information.  Projects  within the  4th  Community  Action  Programme  on  Equal Opportunities23  include 
the  creation  of  European  databanks  on  women  experts  and  women  in  decision-making,  the  use  of 
ICT  as  a  teaching  tool  for  disadvantaged  women,  and  the  use  of  Internet  to  raise  awareness  of 
gender  equality.. 

objective: 

" ^N^^N^vii^^iiiB^ ^^8,ïi^^^|]MiN, .^fe^^W^^^^f^lft^^^l^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^R 

Key actions:  The Commission with 

# 

invite  the  Advisory  Committee  on  Equal  Opportunities  to  advise  on  how  to 
further  integrate the  Information Society  in the 4th Action Programme,  drawing 
in particular  on the £MPLOYM£NT-NOW  Corimunhy  Initiative; 

»  organise a round table  with  business to  assess the gender  equality  implications 
of  the  information  Society  and  present  its  conclusions  at  the  forthcoming 
European Conference on the gender dimension of  Structural Funds activity; 
*  promote  the  development  of  websites  of  projects  financed  by  the  4th  Action 

19  Community  Programme  for  Telematic  Interchange  of  Data  between  Administrations,  1 9 9 5 - 1 9 9 7.  This  programme  supports 

projects  such  as  EURES  (European  Employment  Services),  TESS  (Telematics  for  Social  Security)  and  EUPHIN  (European  Union 
Public  Helath  Information  Network). 

20  Report  of  the  European  Parliament  on  the  Communications  of  the  Commission  The  Information 

Society:  From  Corfu 

to 

Dublin  and  Europe  at  the  Forciront  of  the  Global  Information  Society:  Rolling  Action  Plan.  PE  2 2 1 . 8 4 8 / f i n. 

21  O.J.  C 70  of  6  March  1997 
22  Social  Partners  have  adopted  on  6  June  1997  a  European  Framework  Agreement  on  Part  Time  Work 

to  eliminate 

discrimination  against  part-time  workers. 

23  Council  Decision  of  2 2 . 1 2 . 9 5,  O.J.  L  335  of  3 1 . 1 2 . 1 9 95 

/). 

programme  and  networking  with  projects 
programmes; 

funded  by  other  Community 

»  organise in the  second half  of  1937 a Conference with the European Parliament 

on the role of women In science, 

11.4.  Technology for the benefit of people with disabilities 

20.  The  Green  Paper  emphasised  how  ICT  should  be  used  to  promote  better  a quality  of  life  and  equal 
opportunities  for  people  with  disabilities.  The  last  decade  has  seen  the  development  of  both 
applications  specific  to  the  needs  of  people  with  disabilities  and  more  general-purpose  applications 
of  particular  relevance  for  these  groups.  These  applications  have  provided  new  opportunities  for 
access  to  remote  services  (e.g.  telemedecine),  for  carrying  out  transactions  from  home  (e.g. 
teleshopping),  for  new  forms  of  participation  (e.g.  distance  learning  and  teleworking)  and  for 
interpersonal  communication  (e.g.  videotelephony).  A  spectacular  example  of  this  is  the  relay-
services  system  which  translates  in  both  directions  - text  to  voice  and voice  to  text.  Relay  services 
have  been  widely  implemented  in  the  US  as  a  service  obligation  and  allow  deaf  people  or  people 
with  a  speech  impairment  to  communicate  with  others.  From  a  regulatory  point  of  view,  it  is 
necessary  to  consider  as  much  as  possible  the  specific  needs  of  disabled  people  with  respect  to 
universal service provision. 

2 1.  Particularly  important  challenges  in this  area are the  cost  of  developing  access  software  for  use  both 
by  individuals  and by  public  information  providers  and the  nature  and format  of  information  provision 
which often discriminate  against those with  sight  problems or learning difficulties.  It  is also  important 
that  creative  and  flexible  approaches  to  ICT  service  provision  and  development  be  put  into  place. 
The  Commission  has  mandated24  an  internal  ad-hoc  group  to  examine  the  scope  for  a  special 
initiative  at  European  level, building  on  past  experience  of  ICT  applications  in favour  of  people  with 
disabilities.  The  Commission  has  proposed  that  the  forthcoming  5th  RTD  Framework  Programme 
include actions focused on the social integration of  people with  disabilities. 

Objective: 

Promote access and fufl It 

Key actions:  The Commission wïil take an initiative to: 

•  promote  collaboration  between 

research  bodies  and  users' 
representatives 
to  develop 
specifications  adapted  to  people  with  disabilities  and  to  contribute  to  the 
transformation  of  the  results  of  RTD  into  affordable  products,  and  to  provide 
advisory and training support to assist their take-up; 

the  European  Disability  Forum* 

industry, 

(notably 

*  examine,  in  the  forthcoming  review  of  the  universal  service,  what  services 
should  be included  within the definition of  universal services to  meet the  needs 
of people with disabilities and how this might evolve over timej; 

»  continue to promote projects  relating to people with disabilities  in the context  of 

the Multiannual programme on Information  Society; 

•  build  up  the  co-operation in  this  area  being  launched  within  the  framework  of 

the Transatlantic  Agenda, 

11.5.  Supporting the development of health care systems 

22.  The  use  of  ICT  is  radically  transforming  health  care  technologies  and  is  helping  to  improve 
diagnostic  and therapeutic  possibilities.  Uses are rapidly  emerging  in the  identification  of  scattered 
cases  of  communicable  diseases,  epidemiological  monitoring,  and  the  provision  of  medical 
expertise  to  patients  living  in  remote  areas.  Other  examples  of  its  use  are  in  providing  more 

24  Commission's Communication on Equality of Opportunity for People with Disabilities . COM  (96)  406. 

6 

information  for  self-care  and  home-care.  However,  it  remains  essential  to  avoid  the  risks  of 
depersonalising  the  relationship  between  the  patient  and  the  care-giver,  as  the  HLGE  has 
emphasised. 

23.  The  increasing  use  of  ICT  can  also  contribute  to  a  downward  pressure  on  costs  and  to  improve 
quality  control  standards.  This  requires  the  involvement  of  health  care  staff,  the  re-assessment  of 
staff  skills,  and the  development  of  standards.  Of  particular  importance  in the  health  care  sector  is 
the  need  to  ensure  that  data  protection  is  safeguarded  especially  as  concerns  health  records  and 
ethical  standards.  The  issues  of  professional  responsibility  and  the  liability  associated  with  it  also 
need to  be taken  into  account. 

for  citizens 

24.  The  Community  4th  RTD  Framework  Programme  is  currently  supporting  more  than  100  projects 
concerning  healthcare telematic  applications  ranging  from  telematics  assisted  co-operative  work  for 
teleconsultation  and 
healthcare  professionals  and  information 
emergency  medicine.  The  Commission  has  proposed  that  the  5th  RTD  Framework  Programme  will 
give  priority  to  the  development  of  computerised  medical  systems  and  secure  high-capacity  health 
networks.  The  Commission  is  also  giving  active  consideration  to  the  health  implications  of 
radiomagnetic  radiation  from  mobile  communications.  These  activities  are  supplemented  by  the 
feasibility  studies  connected  to  the  G7  Global  Healthcare  Applications  Projects 
.  The  Commission 
has  recently  issued  a  request  to  the  three  European  standards  bodies  to  elaborate  and  execute  a 
common  work  programme  for  standards  in order  to  accelerate  the  development  of  ICT  technologies 
in the  health  sector. 

telediagnosis, 

to 

Objective: 

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ i ^ } ) ' ^. 

' ' 

Key actions: 

t he  Commission  will: 
»  draw  up  a  report  to  assess  the  health  implications  of  the  Information  Society, 

including a review of  RTD in this area and means of  pooling the results; 

*  exploit  and disseminate  the  results  of  health-related  research  undertaken  within 
in  areas  such  as 

the  Community  RTD  Framework  Programmes,  notably 
telematic  applications  and the health implications of  mobile  communications; 
9  use ICT to develop a Community-wide  network  for  a) sharing  health data  aimed 
at  identifying  trends  in the  incidence  of  disease,  assessing  the  effects  of  public 
health  policies  and  exchange  information  on  threats  to  public  health;  and  b} 
disseminating  and supporting European public  health programmes; 

•  strengthen  international  co-operation  to  ensure  that  the  G-7  pilot  projects  are 

given adequate continuation. 

III.  Working  in the  Information  Society 

111.1.  Flexibility and Security: Getting the right balance 

25.  The  Information  Society  is  provoking  profound  changes  in  the  organisation  of  firms.  However,  the 
introduction  of  new  technology  does  not  automatically  lead  to  improved  performance.  There  is 
evidence  that  the  successful  introduction  of  ICT  requires  an  integrated  approach,  combining  the 
introduction  of  ICT  with  organisational  transformation  and  the  development  of  human  resources. 
One  of  the  key  messages  of  the  Green  Paper  People First  was  the  need  to  have  a  well-informed 
debate  on  the  modernisation  of  working  life,  and  in  particular  on  how  to  achieve  a  new  balance 
between flexibility  and security. 

26.  The  consultation  process  has  shown  that  employees  and  trade  unions  are  concerned  that  the 
introduction  of  ICT  and  new  forms  of  work  organisation  might  result  in  greater  job  insecurity  and 

International  harmonisation  of  data  cards  in  healthcare,  a  24-hour  multilingual  and  multidisciplinary  telemedicine  surveillance  and 

emergency  service  around the  world 

lower  labour  standards  and  stress  the  need  to  ensure  that  people's  rights  are  respected  and 
protected.  Particular  concern  has  been  expressed  for  groups  of  workers  (e.g.  low-skilled  workers, 
teleworkers  and women generally). Some have pointed out that highly skilled workers  (e.g. computer 
programmers)  can  also  be  affected  as  ICT  enable  outsourcing  of  tasks  to  other  parts  of  the  world. 
The process of  adapting the  workforce to the requirements  and pressures of  the  Information  Society 
has to  be matched  by  the  involvement  of  workers  in designing, selecting, and applying  technologies 
and organisational change. 

the  ADAPT  Community 

27.  The Commission's  Green Paper on Partnership fora  New  Organisation of  Work26  draws  attention  to 
how  new  forms  of  work  organisation  can  make  an  important  contribution  to  a  more  competitive 
economy. The Commission has further contributed to the rethinking of the institutions of  working  life 
through  the  Communication  Modernising  and Improving  Social Protection  in  the  European  Union  21. 
Objective  4, 
Information  Society 
component  ADAPT-BIS)  and the  LEONARDO programme  support  the  introduction  of  new  forms  of 
work  organisation  by  training  workers  and  managers,  upgrading  their  technical  skills,  helping  SMEs 
to  introduce  new  managerial concepts favouring  innovation, developing tools for  skills anticipation  on 
which  to  base  human  resources  development  policies  and  improving  the  training  support  structures 
and  systems.  The  Commission's  First  Action  Plan  for  Innovation  in  Europe  Innovation  for  Growth 
and  Employment28  has  launched  a  series  of  transnational  pilot  actions  to  explore  best  practice  in 
management  and  training  fields  as  well  as  training  schemes  for 
to 
encourage  new forms  of  business organisation. 

innovation  management 

Initiative  (including 

its  enhanced 

Objective: 

^S^K^^^^^^^Ê^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Êê^Ê^Ê^^t 

Key actions: 

t he  Commission  wiil; 
»  present  in the  first  half  of  1998, following the debate  on Partnership  for  a  New 

Organisation of  Work Green Paper, proposals for action; 

•  monitor,  in  partnership  with  Member  States,  ESF  programming  across  all 
structural  funds  objectives  and  the  Community  Initiatives  EMPLOYMENT  and 
ADAPT  to  ensure  that  work  organisation  is  fuliy  mainstreamed,  and  will  take 
account  of the results of this  when drawing up proposals  for the  revision  of  the 
Structural  Funds; 

»  develop a European network  - involving specialist  practitioners  m this  field,  such 
as  the  Acteur  Group29,  and the  European Foundation 
for  the  Improvement  of 
Living  and  Working  Conditions  -  with  a  view  to  strengthening  European 
organisational  R&D,  identifying  and  exchanging  good  practice,  promoting  co 
operation, and supporting  lagging sectors and regions; 

•  propose  to  undertake,  within  the  RTD  Framework  Programmes  and  the 
Innovation Action  Plan, further  research  on  new  methods  of  work  organisation 
and production. 

111.2.  Protection of data on employees 

28.  ICT  has  made  it  easier  to  store,  process  and  access  information  than  ever  before.  Continuous 
SL7.?-7L*ion  and  collection  of  data  concerning  different  aspects  of  the  worker's  activities,  possibly 
without  their  knowledge,  is  feasible,  whether  for  security  reasons  or  for  measuring  and  improving 
productivity.  However,  ICT also  provide  an enormous  potential  for  collecting  and  processing  data  on 
worker's  personal  behaviour,  activities  and  characteristics,  with  serious  implications  in  case  of 
inappropriate  use of data. 

16  COM  (97}  128 
11  COM  (97)  102. 
28  COM  (96)  5 89 
23  The  Acteur  Group  is  an  informal  group  meeting  yes:ly  to  exchange  experience  on  the  development  of  new  forms  of  work 

orpr?n;s3tion.  w i th  members  d r s wn  from  nationa!  institutes  concerned  w i th  working  conditions  and  organisational  change. 

29.  In  all  Member  States  comprehensive  laws  aim to  protect  individuals  and their  fundamental  rights 
with  regard to the processing  of  personal  data. At  Community  level  Directive  95/46/EC  harmonises 
such  laws  with  the aim of  removing  obstacles  to the free  movement  of  personal  information  while 
ensuring  a  high  level  of  protection  of  fundamental  rights  and in  particular  of  the  right  to  privacy. 
However,  some  issues,  such  as the processing  of  data  on employees'  health, the role  of  workers' 
representatives  or the use of technical  monitoring  devices, may need to be further  examined  in order 
to  assess  specific  needs  of  protection  for  employees.  Current  national  laws  provide  for  a  rather 
fragmentary  set of rules relating specifically to processing of employees' data. 

Objective: 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^S^^Sï: 

Key actions:  The Commission  w i: 

•  present  in  the  first  half  of  1998  a  Communication  analysing  the  situation 
concerning the protection of the rights and freedoms of  workers, in particular 
the  right  to  privacy  with  regard to  the processing  of  data  and the  use of 
technical monitoring devices; 

•  encourage  privacy;  enhancing  technologies  in  the  context  of  the  5th RTD 

framework Programme, 

III.3.  Creating an adequate framework for telework 

30.  Beyond  the  popular  image  of  teleworkers  as  people  working  at  home  linked  through  ICT to  their 
employer,  telework  also  embraces  forms  such  as  multisite-teleworking,  free-lance  teleworkers, 
mobile  teleworking,  and  telework.  Teleworking  offers  a  wide  range  of  potential  advantages  for 
individuals,  businesses  and  society.  However,  the  penetration  of  telework  is  still  below  the  initial 
30 
expectations.  This  contrasts  with  an  apparently  high  and  rising  interest  of  people  in  telework 
. 
Some  Governments  have  introduced  pilot  schemes to experiment  with the use of telework  in public 
administration  (e.g. The Netherlands, Sweden  and Italy). 

3 1.  In  1996,  the  Commission  undertook,  in  co-operation  with  the  European  Foundation  for  the 
Improvement  of  Living  and Working  Conditions,  comparative  research  on the  national  labour  law, 
health  and  safety  and  social  security  regulations  and collective  bargaining  practices  on  telework. 
There  appears  to  be  no  common  legal  definition  of  telework  and  there  is  almost  no  specific 
legislation.  Some  forms  of  telework  are  subject  to  general  laws,  others  to  specific  regulations 
governing  homework  or  the  self-employed.  In  a  few  cases  collective  agreements  have  been 
concluded  and in  others,  individual  agreements,  both  written  and informal,  deal  with  a  number  of 
telework  issues.  Both  the  HLGE  and  the  Information  Society  Forum  have  recommended  that 
Member  States  clarify  the  legal  and fiscal  status  of  the  various  forms  of  teleworking  and  make  a 
coherent  adaptation  of the social  and legal framework.  The consultation  process  revealed  that  there 
is still a need to learn more about the impact  and consequences  of telework 

Objective: 

To Improve the conditions lor the development of telewwfc 

Key actions:  The Commission will : 

« 

initiate,  in  the  first  tiaif  of  1998,  consultations  with  the  Socia!  Partners  OP. 
whether  a/:d to whst  extent  Community  action on the protection  o* ralewo- vr  i 
is advisable; 

*  continue-  tc  co-operate  with  =he European  Foundation  for  the  improvernert  of 
Liv.og  and Working  Cordftiorvs  to  jndertake  tesearch on  working  cor.aiticr-s o' 
teleworkers; 

•  propose  to  enhance  the  roie  of  research  on  technologies  supporting  telework 
and the related  social  and employment  implications  in the 5th RTD  Framework 

It  was  estimated  that  in  1 9 94  there  were  about  1.25  million  teleworkers  in  Europe  (EUR-12),  about  1 . 2 1% of  the  European 
workforce  (Final  Report  of  the  TELDET  project.  Empirica  and  Work  Research  Centre.  July  1995).  The  same  project  reported 
that  over  4 0% of  Europeans  were  interested  in  taking  up  teleworking,  more  than  doubling  the  interest  s h o wn  in  the  1 9 8 0 s. 

It, 

Programme; 

•  continue to  support awareness raising activities on  telework; 

»  study Now teiework can be promoted within the  Commission-

Ill .4.  Supporting Social Dialogue as an instrument for change 

32.  The  consultation  process,  in  line  with  the  Green  Paper,  has  shown  a  clear  consensus  about  the 
importance of  maintaining fair, participative  and productive  social dialogue  in the  Information  Society. 
However,  the  nature  of  social  dialogue  is  being  fundamentally  altered  in  the  Information  Society. 
Increasingly, the  social partners  no longer operate within traditional  collective  bargaining  systems  due 
to the emergence of  flexible  production systems, the globalisation of  markets  and production  and the 
convergence  of  traditionally  separated  industries. Information, consultation  and negotiation  should  be 
at  the  level  at  which  industrial  policy  decisions  are  taken,  but  also  at  levels  and  in  ways  that  take 
into  account  the  increasingly  used  new  forms  of  work  organisation.  In  this  context,  the  European 
Works  Council  Directive31  sets  a  framework  for  EU  level  consultation,  and  the  Commission  has 
recently  launched  a  first  stage  consultation  with  the  social  partners  with  a  view  to  establishing  a 
legally  binding  Community  framework  on  information  and  consultation  procedures  at  national  level 
which will complete and make more coherent the Community  legislation in this  field. 

33.  The  Commission's  Communication  on  the  development  of  the  social  dialogue 

emphasised  that 
employment,  flexibility  at  work  and  working  conditions  should  be  among  the  future  priorities  of  the 
social dialogue. The  Commission  will  encourage  the  social  partners  to  enhance  the  role  of  European 
social  dialogue  as  a  forum  for  exchange  of  experience  favouring  the  implementation  of  integrated 
approaches  to  structural  change  in  the  workplace  based  on  principles  of  organisational  innovation, 
technological  innovation,  human  resources  development,  and  employment  creation.  The  current  re 
structuring  of the telecommunications  sector  - where the Joint  Committee  on Telecommunications  is 
working  toward  a framework  agreement  -  provides  a good  example  of  the  nature  and  pace  of  the 
changes  underway  and how  the social dialogue can help smooth the process. 

32 

34.  The  HLGE  has  recommended  that  ICT  facilities  should  be  made  available  to  Social  Partners  to 
improve  communication  processes,  enhancing  employee  participation  and  involvement  in  change. 
The  Commission  is  already  supporting  several  projects  promoting  the  use  of  telematic  applications 
by  the  Social  Partners33  as  well  as  awareness  and training  actions  in the  use  and  effects  of  ICT34. 
The  Information  Society  Forum  has  started  also  a  process  of  involving  Social  Partners  in  their 
discussions  on the future  of  Information  Society  in Europe and on the priorities to  be set. 

Objective: 

§ | | | |^ 

Key actions: 

"^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

|||||i::ba$is^fol;pi|ol{h^ 

] | | | p^ 
||||f|pif j $^ 

awàréhéss; 

Jl  Council  Directive  94/45/EC  of  22  September  1994  :)n  the  establishment  of  a  European  Works  Council. 
32  COlv 
33  " 
34 

i  ^  "i.  i  ces  Director  Network'  on  the  Internet  and  ESDO  - Européen  Social  Dialogue  or  L ne. 
•RD 

;  activities  under  Article  6.1 .d  o 

the  European  Social  Fu'ic'  ^ n "' 

'9G)  44C 

'<!" 

,r 

• 

III.5.  Health and Safety at Work 

35.  There  is now  a considerable  body  of  Community  legislation  on  health  and safety  at  work.  Several 
directives  apply,  inter  alia, to  ICT,  and the  directive  on  visual  display  screen  equipment  is  specific 
to  this  field.  Of  particular  importance  is  the  framework  Directive  89/391/EEC  which  places  a 
In  order  to  fulfil  these  obligations, 
number  of  obligations  on  both  employers  and  workers. 
employers  must  have  access  to  the  most  up-to-date  information  available.  In  this  context  the 
European Agency  for  Safety  and  Health  at Work  in Bilbao  will  promote  access, through  its  Internet 
network  with  "focal  points"  in  Member  States  and  international  organisations,  to  a wide  range  of 
relevant  information  on health  and safety  at  work. 

36.  ICT  can  assist  the  correct  implementation  of  Community  health  and  safety  legislation  and  the 
collection  and  policy  evaluation  of  health  and  safety  data.  However,  access  to  information 
through  ICT  is  not  sufficient  in  itself  and the  development  of  appropriate  software  and  interactive 
multimedia  applications  could  be  of  considerable  help  in  the  pursuit  of  these  aims.  The  1996 
Brussels  Conference  on  the  use  of  ICT  on  health  and  safety  at  work  identified  the  marketing  of 
multimedia  products  and the  stimulation  of  research  on  standards  for  their  information  content  as 
two  major  challenges. 

37.  The  current  estimated  use of  ICT  by  3 8%  of  all workers  will  continue  to  grow.  This  increased  use 
will  promote  a  more  efficient,  more  challenging  and  safer  workplace.  Nonetheless,  there  are 
adverse  impacts  of  ICT,  such  as growing  stress,  and  poor  ergonomics  leading  to  musculo-skeletal 
disorders. These  issues  have  already  been identified  by the  Commission  as priorities  for  action. 

Objective: 

WKÊ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^SÊ^^^^^^^^Ê^^^^^K'^ 

Key action:  The Commission will : 

•  develop»  together  with  the  European  Agency  for  Safety  and  Health  at  Work,  a 
telematic  network  linking the  Agency  with  focal  points  in  each  Member  State  to 
allow  access to a wide-range of  information on occupational  health and safety; 
*  examine  how  the  collection  and  processing  of  health  and  safety  data  and  their 

use can be improved, and make appropriate  proposals; 

«  examine  how  to  stimulate  the  marketing  of  multimedia  products  on  health  and 

safety  at  work. 

IV.  Turning the  opportunities  into Jobs 

IV. 1.  Understanding the changes in employment and production 

38.  The  creation  of  jobs  in  order  to  reduce  unemployment  and  increase  the  employment  rate  is  one  of 
the  most  pressing  needs  for  the  EU. An  integrated  strategy  for  growth  and  employment  has  been 
developed  at  EU  level  since  the  1994  Essen  European  Council.  This  process  was  given  a  strong 
political  impetus  at  the  Amsterdam  Summit,  where  an  employment  chapter  was  introduced  in  the 
Treaty.  The  employment  strategy  is  based  on  policies  promoting  a  sustainable,  non-inflationary 
growth,  macroeconomic  environment  and  structural  policies  strengthening  competitiveness.  It  gives 
a priority to the employability  of  people. 

39.  The various  facets  of  the  Information  Society  are strongly  interlinked  with  this  employment  strategy. 
The  introduction  of  ICT  together  with  organisational  changes,  in  the  context  of  a  globalised 
economy,  are  driving  forces  for  productivity  gains  and  thereby  for  higher  profits  and  real  wages, 
which  form  the  basis  for  further  new  demand  and  new  employment.  Employment  is  also  affected 
through the  changes  in demand for  more  and broader  skills  and for  fewer  unskilled  people. The  more 
effective  the  transformation  of  profits  into  new  investment  and  from  old  skills  to  new  skills,  the 

11 

M 

stronger  the  employment  growth  and  the  quicker  the  reduction  of  unemployment.  A  fundamental 
structural  problem  in  Europe  is the  slow  adjustment  of  skills  to  new  economic  structures  (the  two-
speed  labour  market),  which  can  explain  the  slow  economic  growth.  This  is  why  the  European 
employment  strategy  increasingly  emphasises  employability  as  one  key  element  to  improve  the 
adjustments  of  labour markets  and the creation of  employment. 

40.  The  consultation  has  revealed that  there  is a firm  demand  in  Europe for  establishing  clearer  analysis 
on  how  the  transition  towards  the  Information  Society  will  impact  on  labour  markets.  The  diverse 
trends  in  overall  employment  growth  and  decline  patterns  between  regions  (especially  peripheral), 
sectors,  and  occupational  groups  need  to  be  clearly  identified  to  support  a  more  effective 
management  of the job transformation  process. 

less  than  50%.  The  HLGE  has  drawn  attention  to  the  challenge  that 

4 1.  The  sectoral  structure  of  employment  in  Europe  has  changed  radically  and  services  account 
nowadays  for  about  65%  of  total  employment  in  Europe  whereas  only  twenty  years  ago  it 
accounted  for 
this 
"dematerialisation"  of the economy  is placing on our conceptual frameworks  and statistical  systems. 
The  HLGE  has  also  said  that  the  shift  from  manufacturing  towards  service  activities  raises 
"fundamental  issues about  where  value is being  created and how  it  can be  extracted,  as  well  as  by 
whom  and  how  is  distributed",  and  has  drawn  the  attention  of  the  Commission  to  "the  need  to 
the 
adapt 
Commission does not  consider the  "bit tax"  proposed by the Group to  be necessary  or appropriate 
, 
nonetheless  it  considers  that  the  repercussions  of  the  Information  Society  on  the  efficiency  of 
different  forms  of  taxation  need  to  be  carefully  examined,  as  recommended  by  the  European 

the  changing  economic  structure  of 

the  Information  Society".  While 

taxation 

to 

36 

Parliament 
Information  Society. 

.  Another  aspect  that  deserves  consideration  is  the  environmental  impact  of  the 

Objective: 

Key action:  The Commission  w i li 

•  undertake  regular monitoring m the  Annual  Report  on  Employment  of  trends  and 

Changes in the employment structure* 

*  propose  to  pursue  in  the  5th  RTD  Framework  Programme  research  on  the 
dematerialisation  of  the  economy  and  the  relationships  between  technological 
change, employment,  skills and economic  competitiveness; 

•  continue,  through  Eurostat  and  ESIS,  the  efforts  to  improve  the  statistical 
framework  and  toois  necessary  to  understand  and  monitor  the  development  of 
the Information Society, particularly related to employment trends; 

®  analyse, through the Taxation Policy <3roup, the impact  of the  Information  Society 

on taxation; 

*  assess  available  research  and  studies  on  the  environmental  impact  of 

the 

information Society and undertake, if necessary, further  research,. 

IV.2. Exploiting the potential for new jobs 

42.  A  key  element  in  the  European  strategy  for  transition  to  the  Information  Society  is  the  process  of 
liberalisation of  telecommunication  markets.  Different  studies  and reports  7  have concluded  that  the 
overall  effects  of  the télécoms  liberalisation  in terms  of  jobs  will  depend  on the  pace  of  that  process 
and  on  the  speed  of  diffusion  of  the  technologies.  The  quicker  those  processes,  the  better  the 

35  Tax  levied  on  the  "intensity"  of  information  transmission;  amounts  paid  would  be  based  on  the  number  of  bits  transmitted. 
C f.  Report  of  the  European  Parliament  on  the  communications  of  the  Commission  The  Information  Society:  From  Corfu 
Dublin  and  Europe  at  the  Forefront  of  the  Global  Information  Society:  Rolling  Action  Plan.  PE  2 2 1 . 8 4 8 / f in 
the 
of 
liberalisation 

sector,  BIPE  Conseil,  IFO  Institut  and  LENTIC 
information  market,  Analysis,  1 9 9 6;  The 

37  Effects  on  employment 

liberalisation 
télécoms 

telecommunications 

the  single 

integrated 

the 

on 

to 

of 

Brussels,  1 9 9 7;  The  impact  of 
effects  of  competitition 

on  employment 

in  the  telecommunications 

industry:  case  Fin/and,  Price  Waterhouse,  1 9 9 6. 

12 

chances  of  a  favourable  outcome  in  terms  of  net  job  creation.  The  right  regulatory  market 
frameworks  have to  be set  up to  facilitate the  emergence  of  new jobs.  Better  and clearer  knowledge 
is  also  needed  on  the  mechanisms  of  company  and  job  creation  associated  with  the  Information 
Society,  in particular  those  related to  the  Internet  and to  electronic  commerce. The  recently  adopted 
European  Initiative  in  Electronic  Commerce 
is  attempting  to  promote  a  widespread  adoption  of 
electronic  commerce  to  create  business  and  employment  opportunities.  For  instance,  the  tourism 
industry  (one  area  where  employment  growth  can  be  expected)  can  significantly  benefit  from  the 
opportunities  offered  by electronic  commerce. 

43.  Software  and computer  services  have occupied the top positions  for  employment  creation  in Europe. 

39 

Most  of  these  new  jobs  are  created  in  SMEs 
.  Programming  and  multimedia  content  jobs  are 
expected  to  be  the  great  beneficiaries  of  the  Internet  explosion  in  Europe.  But  if  those  jobs  are  to 
stay  in  Europe  it  is necessary,  among  other  things, to  overcome  the  shortage  of  skilled  labour  in  ICT 
industry,  as  well  as  the  renewal  of  skills  that  become  quickly  obsolete.  The  Communication 
Competitiveness  of  the  European  Information  and  Communication  Technology  Industries40,  has 
proposed,  among  others, the  implementation  of  a "skills  standard"  scheme to  fulfil the  objective  of 
upgrading  the  skills  base  of  European  ICT  industries.  The  conditions  favouring  the  development  of 
high growth  SMEs in the  ICT industries  have to  be improved, and in particular  the  access of  SMEs  to 
venture  and seed capital. 

44.  The  key  issue  is  not  just  the  creation  of  globally  competitive  ICT  industries  but  also  how  the  new 
technologies  might  help  develop  enterprises  in  all  other  branches,  not  least  SMEs.  To  remain 
competitive  SMEs  increasingly  depend  on  their  capacity  to  absorb  and  use  new  technologies,  to 
participate  in  complex  supply  chains,  to  have  access  to  new  knowledge,  and  to  participate  in  the 
appropriate  networks.  The  problems  SMEs 
in  accessing 
telecommunications  infrastructure  vary,  depending  on  the  level  of  awareness  and  the  availability  of 
internal  competences  and  local  infrastructure.  There  is  also  evidence  that  SMEs  have  in  general  a 
lower  take  up  of  new  technologies  and  have  difficulties  in  recruiting  skilled  people.  A  survey41  of 
500  fast  growing  European  SMEs  found  that  one  third  of  them  had  had  vacancies  in  1994  that 
were  hard  to  fill;  more  than  50  %  had  experienced  difficulties  in  recruiting  qualified  staff  during 
the  previous  three  years.  Firms  reported  that  major  difficulties  related  to  the  availability  of  skilled 
workers  and  technicians.  The  Commission  is  preparing  various  actions  and  pilot  projects  to  raise 
SME's  awareness  and provide training to  SME's managers on the  potential of  electronic  commerce. 

integrating 

ICT  and 

face 

in 

45.  Regional  and  local governments  have  a key  role in supporting  SMEs to  build their  capacities,  both  at 
management  and  workforce  levels,  and  to  help  them  grasp  the  opportunities  offered  by  the 
Information  Society.  The  Regional  Information  Society  Initiative  (RISI),  Objective  4,  ADAPT-BIS, 
LEADER  and  LEONARDO  are  amongst  the  initiatives  contributing  to  help  SMEs  build  the  human 
resources that  are necessary.  The Territorial  Pacts of  Employment,  which  share with  RISI a common 
methodology  based  on  a bottom-up  approach  should  be  a key  instrument  to  manage the  process  of 
change  at  local  level  and to  grasp  the  opportunities  offered  by  the  Information  Society,  for  example 
through the development  of  knowledge  resource centres  and electronic  commerce. 

Objective:  Underpin the  proce$& of  change, mû  develop  the H*mm  mmwtm  foase  and  l b* 

adaptation capacities of SMEs 

Key action:  The Commission  ; 

•  will  continue  to  support,  through  the  mainstreaming  process  of  the  Information 

JB  COM  (97)  157 
39  It  is  estimated  that  more  than  16  0 00  software  and  computing  services  companies  exist  in  Western  Europe,  w i th  over  3 00 
0 00  employees,  more  than  1 00  0 00  independent  professionals  and  small  offices  employing  another  2 00  0 00  people.  To  this 
should  be  added  Internet  and  multimedia  software  and  services,  the  vast  majority  of  w h i ch  have  less  than  20  employees  and 
many  less  than  5  employees.  (Panorama  of  Industry  1997) 

40  COM  (97)  152 
41  Cf  Europe's  500,  EFER,  1996.This  confirms 

the  findings  of  survey  reporting  that  4 1%  of 

firms  w i th 

less  than  2 00 

employees  had  suffered  shortages  of  adequately  skilled  applicants  {European  Economy,  Reports  and  Studies,  N°3, 

1995). 

13 

Society  in the different  Structural  Funds objectives, the development  of  local  and 
regional  strategies  towards  the  Information  Society,  and  wilf  ensure  that  the 
human resources aspects  (especially within SMEs) are properly incorporated; 
•  will  continuer  In the  context  of  the  RISI  pilot  projects,  to  collaborate  with  the 
regions  concerned  to  exploit  and  disseminate  the  results  to  local  and  regional 
authorities; 

•  urges  regions  and  cities  to  ensure  that  the  Territonal  Pacts  of  Employment 
incorporate  an  Information  Society  dimen$ion,  for  example  to  maximise  the 
potential of  electronic commerce* 

46.  The  social  economy42  is  a  driving  force  in  forging  social  solidarity.  The  new  technologies  can 
contribute  substantially  to  the  sustainability  of  the  social economy,  by  helping them to  adopt  flexible 
structures  and 
innovative  organisational  solutions  and  supporting  communication  and  skills 
development.  As  the  consultation  process  revealed,  non-profit  organisations  play  a substantial  role 
in  familiarising  less  favoured  social  groups  with  ICT.  The  Structural  Funds,  through  the  funding  of 
many  local  employment  initiatives,  play  an  important  role  in support  of  such  activities.  Despite  their 
local  focus,  these  experiences  offer  lessons  that  deserve  to  be  disseminated  at  national  and 
European levels. 

Objective: 

^ M H ^ ^ j ^ | | ^ | ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ y ^ | j ^ ^ H l S ^ ^ H R ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ H ^ ^ ^ ^ RB 

Key action:  The Commission will  : 

• 

include  within  the  forthcoming  1907  call  for  proposals  concerning  The  Thmt 
System  and Bnptoyment4^  a specific measure aiming at the promotion of thé u$e 
of  ICT by the operators of  the third  sector; 

•  develop a web-site for the exchange of  information  and experience in this  field, 

IV.3. Skills for living and working 

47.  The  continuous  restructuring  of  the  economy  and  the  introduction  of  new  technologies  combined 
with the  slow  adaptation  of  education  and training  can explain the  skills gap in  European  economies. 
A  recent  survey44  conducted  by  the  Commission  reported  that  52  per  cent  of  job  seekers  have  no 
vocational training  (as compared with  28  per cent  of those  with jobs).  Furthermore,  only  a very  small 
minority  of  unemployed job  seekers  are offered  opportunities  for  retraining  or  upgrading  of  their  skills 
to  meet  new  demands.  Less  than  10  per  cent  of  the  unemployed  were  given  a  new  start  through 
education  and  training.  On  the  business  side,  Section  IV.2  has  shown  how  skills  shortages  raise 
obstacles to  SMEs growth. 

48.  The  skills  gap  is  a serious  and  a growing  structural  problem.  The  identification  of  skills  mismatches 
requires  a  continuous  monitoring  process.  It  is  also  vital  to  develop  the  capacity  for  anticipation  in 
enterprises  which  helps  understand  overall  change,  new  skill  structures  and  new  opportunities  for 
employment.  Objective 4  of  the  European Social Fund, together  with the related Community  Initiative 
ADAPT,  provides  significant  support  for  improving  the  management  of  human  resources  by 
anticipating  the  changes  which  the  Information  Society  will  bring,  in  particular  by  strengthening 
investment  in human capital, especially  low-skilled  workers  at particular  risk of  losing their jobs. 

2  The  social  economy  includes  co-operatives,  mutuals,  associations  and  foundations,  h  covers  a  wide  range  of  activities  from 
education,  cultural  and  social  services  to  voluntary  groups,  representing  about  10  percent  of  services  employment  in  the  EU. 
3  In  the  framework  of  activities  carried  out  under  budgetary  line  B 3 - 4 0 1 3. 
4  Cf.  European  Economy,  Reports  and  Studies,  N°  3,  1 995 

14 

a)  focus on efforts underway  in Objective 4  and ADAPT,  prioritising 
* 

actions  directed  at  the  low-skilled,  with  a  particular  emphasis  on  acquiring  ICT 
skills; 
anticipation  instruments and mechanisms ie.Q. local and sectoral observatories); 
advisory support for  anticipation strategies within enterprises; 
the role of the social partners in the anticipation of  industrial change; and 
a major  Conference in 1998 on Anticipation, Employment  and Skills. 

* 
* 
* 
* 

b) in  line  with  the  Communication  Cohesion and  the  Information  Society,  monitor  all 
Information  Society  dimension  is fully 
ESF  programming  to ensure 
mainstreamed, having special regard to; 
* 
* 

the integration of  those at a special disadvantage on the labour  market,  and 
increasing ICT skills training of  women and support  structures for  teleworkers. 

that 

the 

The Commission will  maintain, in the context  of the Agenda  2000 proposals, a  strong 
commitment  to  improving  human  resource  development  systems  so  as  to  anticipate 
economic  and  social change,  maintain  employability  and  harness  the  employment 
potential of the Information  Society. 

49.  The  Green  Paper  set  out  the  radical  changes  in  education  and  training  that  will  be  required  so  that 
people  can  keep  pace  with  the  changes  brought  by  rapid technological  development 
. It  also  called 
for  the  development  of  a  new  architecture  of  lifelong  education  and  training.  ICT  provide  huge 
opportunities  for  improving  access  to  training  and  its  quality  through  innovative  and  tailored 
pedagogic  approaches.  However,  there  remain  concerns  about  quality  standards,  about  potential 
longer-term  effects  of  learning  in  new  "virtual"  environments,  and  about  safeguarding  education's 
social  and cultural  development  functions.  The  economies  of  new  technology-based  approaches  are 
also  a  subject  of  debate,  as  are  the  market  conditions  and  policies  which  are  necessary  for  the 
emergence  of  a strong  European presence in multimedia training supply.  In this  connection, the  HLGE 
has  proposed  the  creation  of  a  European  Learning  Agency  and  Network  (ELAN)  as  a  forum  for 
sharing  approaches  and  experiences  in the  areas  of  leading-edge  applications,  standards  and  quality 
assurance, intellectual  property  rights, training, and R&D.  . 

Objective: 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^X^^^ÊKl 

Key actions:  ||f|||lCor|trii||jon 

B ï ç j l R^ 

-  and :the ;:. 

%  w§  pro/yide  w 

: ; ; f ! i p o r h m i s s i^ 
!:*;;;I$ii^ 
;i|:!|;!p^few; and ir^hsify  its  n e^ 

: '. 

:  d^ 

JïllÉOil :;:!$i$$ii!i^ 
§|||§lifï 

llllt|j^ 
lillll^ 

learning Agency  arid Met work; 

open  and 

; l l ! ! i ! ii 

employability and facilitate  access 
^ I M; i long  : term 

'  Following  the  Commission's  1 9 93  White  Paper  on  Growth,  Competitiveness 
Teaching  and  Learning.  Towards 
'  The  Commission's  A c t i on  Plan  Learning 

Society. 
in  the  Information  Society 

the  Know/edge 

is  already  addressing  certain  of  these  issues. 

and  Employment 

and  the  1995  White  Paper 

15 

? o 

* 

Member States, open learning facilities based on the Internet; 
examine  how  the  roie of  Universities  of  the Third Age  can be  developed  and 
promote their  networking at European level. 

IV.4. ICT and the modernising of Public Employment Services 

50.  Employment  services  -  which  are  responsible  for  20  per  cent  of  all  placements  in the  Community  -
have  a  key  role  to  play  in  addressing  the  structural  problems  of  the  labour  market.  ICT  are  an 
essential  element  in  the  process  of  modernisation  of  existing  job  vacancy  and  job  registration 
systems.  In the  past  many  public  employment  services  (PES) had separate vacancy  and  registration 
systems.  They  are  now  increasingly  modernising  and  linking  them  so  that  local  employment  office 
advisers  can  register  job  seekers  automatically  and  match  them  to  the  vacancies  on  offer  at  the 
earliest  possible  stage. Over  and above these developments  there  is an increasing  use of  self-service 
terminals  in local  employment  offices  which  allows job  seekers  to  "self  select"  vacancies  and  apply 
direct to the employer. There is also widespread  use of teletext facilities to  advertise jobs  and general 
services to  clients,  and  use of  the  Internet  is growing  rapidly47  to  make  available  information  on  the 
PES themselves, training courses, employment  programmes  and job vacancies. 

5 1.  The possibilities  of  networking  different  local data  bases may  be helpful  in facilitating  the  mobility  of 
workers,  an  aspect  of  the  utmost  importance  in the  framework  of  the  Single  Market  and  EMU.  At 
European  level,  the  EURES  (European  Employment  Services)  network,  launched  in  1994,  has 
developed  an IT system  which  allows  PES to  notify  each other  their  international job  vacancies.  This 
system  is customised to  meet  the  specific  needs of  each  PES and  some  border  regions  have  agreed 
to  exchange through  EURES all job vacancies  in their  areas.  EURES is also developing  Internet-based 
services, which  will mirror  at  a European level those provided by the  PES at  Member  State level. 

Objective: 

Improve the functioning of the public employment services 

Key action:  The Commission wilt: 

t  encourage and support exchanges of experience between Member States on the 

use of ICT to modernise Public Employment Services; and 
•  encourage the linking of national vacancy systems via EURES. 

V.  The social dimension of the Information Society - the way forward: 

52.  This  Communication  has  summarised  the  progress  made  during  the  1990s  to  integrate  the  social 
dimension  into  the  development  of  policies  for  the  Information  Society.  It  has  presented  the 
challenges  that  lie  ahead  in reconciling  social, economic  and technological  goals,  and  new  initiatives 
to  be  taken  in  different  policy  fields.  These  initiatives  comprise  an  EU  strategy  for  action  at  three 
levels: 

•  At  national and regional level, where  the  Commission  will  provide  support  to  the  Member  States 
to  integrate  a strong  social  dimension  into  the  ongoing  development  of  their  Information  Society 
strategies. 

«»  At  Community  level,  where  the  Commission  will  itself  contribute  to  the  development  and 
mainstreaming  of  the  social dimension  of  the  Information  Society  by  ensuring  that  different  areas 
of  social  policy  (such  as  employment,  equal  opportunities,  health  and  safety,  public  health, 
education  and training)  and other  Community  policies take full  account  of  the  Information  Society 
dimension. 

Flanders,  Wallonia,  Denmark,  Germany,  Spain,  France,  the  Netherlands,  Austria,  Finland,  Sweden,  United  Kingdom..  France 
was  already  advertising  these  services  by  Minitel,  and  it  is  expected  to  do  it  on  Internet  before  the  end  of  1 9 9 7. 

16 

At  international level, where  the  European  Union  has  been  active  to  support  the  development  of 
the  Information  Society  and to  give  attention to  the  social dimension. The  Commission  hosted  in 
1995  a  G-7  Ministerial  Conference  on  the  Global  Information  Society,  it  has  also  organised, 
together  with  the  German  Government,  in  Bonn  on  6-8  July  1997,  a  European  Ministerial 
conference  on  the  exploitation  of  the  potential  of  the  Internet  Global  Information  Networks: 
Realising  the  Potential.  At  this  Conference,  a declaration  was  agreed  which  addressed,  amongst 
other  issues,  the  importance  of  global  networks  for  the  creation  of  employment,  the  need  for 
easy public  access for  all, and the  high priority of  promoting electronic  literacy  and education. The 
Commission  will  intensify  international  co-operation  on  the  social  dimension  of  the  Information 
Society  -  for  example  on  issues  such  as  security  and  harmful  and  illegal  content  -  in  the 
framework  of  the  G-7,  the  Transatlantic  Agenda,  the  co-operation  with  Central  and  Eastern 
Europe Countries and other  international fora to  which the Commission  participates. 

Objective: 

Key action: 

^^^^^^K^MÊMÊë^^Ê^^^^^^^^Ê^^^^^^^^^^M 

The Commission wiil : 
• 

convene  an  annual  round  table  review  with  Member  State  authorities  to 
review  progress  in  implementing  the  social  and  employment  aspects  of  their 
respective  strategies  and  programmes,  linked  where  appropriate/  to  broader 
meetings and exhibitions in order to  exchange experience; 
continue  work  on  mainstreaming  the  social  dimension  of  the  information 
Society in the framework of the  Information Society Forum, which will  provide 
a focal point for  co-ordinated examination of the  interplay  between  information 
Society policies and their social $nd employment dimension; 
promote  in  the  appropriate  international  fora  the  development  and  use  of 
technologies  which  can  help  improve  social  cohesion  and the  improvement 
of  living, learning and working conditions for  alt groups in society. 

• 

• 

17 

1^ 

Annexe: 

Glossary of acronyms 

ADAPT-BIS 

EEC 
ELAN 
EMPLOYMENT-NOW 

EMU 
ERDF 
ESF 
ESIS 
EU 
EURES 
G7 
HLGE 

ICT 
IDA 

lnfo-2000 

IRIS 
ISF 
LEADER 
LEONARDO 
NGOs 
ODL 
PES 
RISI 
RTD 
R&D 
SMEs 
TV 

Community  Initiative for the Adaptation  of  the Workforce  to  Industrial  Change -
Building the Information  Society 
European Economic  Community 
European Learning Agency  and  Network 
Community  Initiative  on  Employment  and  Development  of  Human  Resources  -
Equal Opportunities  for  Women 
Economic  and Monetary  Union 
European Regional Development  Fund 
European Social Fund 
European Survey of  Information Society  Projects and Actions 
European Union 
European Employment  System 
Group of the world seven more industrialised  countries 
High  Level  Group  of  Experts  on  the  social  and  societal  aspects  of 
Information  Society 
Information 
Community  Programme 
Administrations 
Community  Programme for  the  development  of  a European multimedia  content 
industry 
Inter-Regional  Information  Society 
Information Society  Forum 
Community  Initiative for  Rural  Development 
Community  Programme for  vocational training 
Non-Governmental  Organisations 
Open and Distance  Learning 
Public  Employment  Services 
Regional Information  Society  Initiative 
Research and technological  development 
Research and development 
Small and medium sized enterprises 
Television 

and communication  technologies 

Interchange  of  Data  between 

telematic 

the 

for 

ISSN 0254-1475 

COM(97) 390  final 

DOCUMENTS 

EN 

04  05  15  16 

Catalogue  number  :  CB-CO-97-426-EN-C 

ISBN  92-78-23766-3 

Office  for  Official  Publications of the European  Communities 

L-2985  Luxembourg