Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

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

**II.** **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**
**greater** **prominence within public debate and public policy, as pointed out in the**
**Commission's Agenda 2000.**

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
policies and actions, and to identify specific actions designed to maximise the
contribution of the Information Society to promoting employment and inclusion.

**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**

Access to the tools of the Information Society is of fundamental importance for
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
Institutions to draw up a communication strategy facilitating access to public
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.

**3. Flexibility** _**and**_ **security in working life**

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 idea 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 learning organisation of work. Parallel with 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.

**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 learning is required, supported by selective restructuring of public
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

Information and Communication Technologies.

and the Community Initiative _ADAPT._ A further allocation of 162 MECU has been made
for the purpose of Building the Information Society _(ADAPT-BIS)_ for the period 1997-99.
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 Commission will 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 all
**groups in society.**

**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
1996 [4]   - triggered a lively debate at three interrelated levels: political dialogue, social dialogue, and
civil dialogue. In total, more than 130 responses were submitted [5], of which more than 40% 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
important role to play in shaping this process, striking a balance between policies to enhance
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 1996; _Networks_ _for_
_People and their Communities._ First Annual Report from the Information Society Forum. June 1996.
3 _Bui/ding_ _the Information_ _Society_ _for Us All._ Final Report of the High Level Group of Experts, April 1997.
4 The documents _Report on the_ _Dub/in_ _Colloquium_ and _Source Document_ _on the Dublin Colloquium_ present a summary and the
details of the discussions held during the Conference, _in situ_ and in the web site created for this occasion.
5 A detailed account of the responses officially submitted will be published by the Commission as a separate document.
25,000 printed copies were distributed, and the web site was accessed about 20,000 times.
6 COM (96)607

**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 the main policy responsibilities for the matters addressed in 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 plans [8] 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.

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:

    - supporting the Member States in developing and implementing their strategies and programmes;

    - taking specific initiatives in its areas of responsibility;

    - taking account of the Information Society within social policy and other policies;

    - ensuring that social needs are fully taken into consideration in the Community RTD programmes [9] ;

    - 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 5th 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 required [11] .

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 forward [12] 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
1 _Enhancing European Competitiveness._ Competitiveness Advisory Group, December 1995.
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

13

targeted at specific social groups .

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_Key_ _**actions:**_ |11§1||^^

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U.2. Enhancing Democracy and Public Services

15. The advent of network based communications such as the Internet has allowed much simpler and
cheaper dissemination of information, allowing local, regional, national, and international
communication to flourish alongside more traditional forms of mass media. However, 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
information and audio-visual services and in its Communication on illegal and harmful content on
the Internet [15] .

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
Initiative [16], the RISI [17] 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 6.5.97.
1 COM (96) 486
_'[_ COM (96) 487
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 1994.

18.

19.

use and exploitation. The Commission is carrying out activities under various programmes (e.g.
IDA [19], 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&7 [21],
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

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 .

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 Opportunities [23] 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, 1995-1997. This programme supports
projects such as EURES (European Employment Services), TESS (Telematics for Social Security) and EUPHIN (European Union
Public Helath Information Network).
2 0 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 221.848/fin.
21 O.J. C70 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 22.12.95, O.J. L 335 of 31.12.1995

_/)._

programme and networking with projects funded by other Community

programmes;
» 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 relayservices 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.

21. 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 mandated [24] 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 industry, research bodies and users'
representatives (notably the European Disability Forum* 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;

          - 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.

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
healthcare professionals and information for citizens to telediagnosis, teleconsultation and
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.

_**Objective:**_ _^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ i ^ } ) ' ^ ._ ' '

_**Key**_ _actions:_ the 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
the Community RTD Framework Programmes, notably in areas such as
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.

27. The Commission's Green Paper on _Partnership_ _fora_ _New Organisation of Work_ _[26]_ 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, the _ADAPT_ Community Initiative (including its enhanced 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 Employment_ _[28]_ has launched a series of transnational pilot actions to explore best practice in
management and training fields as well as training schemes for innovation management to
encourage new forms of business organisation.

_Objective:_ _^S^K^^^^^^^Ê^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^Êê^Ê^Ê^^t_

_Key actions:_ the 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 Group_ _[29]_ _,_ 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 cooperation, 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) 589
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. with members drswn from nationa! institutes concerned with 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).

31. 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- v r _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 1994 there were about 1.25 million teleworkers in Europe (EUR-12), about 1.21% 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 shown in the 1 980s.

_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 Directive [31] 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.

32
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 restructuring 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.

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 Partners [33] as well as awareness and training actions in the use and effects of ICT [34] .
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 ^ awàréhéss [; ]
###### **||||f|pif j $ ^**

J l Council Directive 94/45/EC of 22 September 1994 :)n the establishment of a European Works Council.
32 COlv '9G) 44C
33 " i ^ "i. i ces Director Network' on the Internet and ESDO - Européen Social Dialogue or L ne.
34 ; activities under Article 6.1 .d o the European Social Fu'ic' ^ n " ' _•_ _,r_ _'<!"_ _•RD_

**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
number of obligations on both employers and workers. In order to fulfil these obligations,
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 38% 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 twospeed 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.

41. 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 less than 50%. The HLGE has drawn attention to the challenge that 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_
_adapt taxation to the changing economic structure of the Information Society"._ While the
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

36
Parliament . Another aspect that deserves consideration is the environmental impact of the
Information Society.

_Objective:_

_Key action:_ The Commission wili

             - 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.

Cf. Report of the European Parliament on the communications of the Commission _The Information_ _Society:_ _From Corfu to_

_Dublin_ and _Europe at the Forefront_ _of the Global Information_ _Society: Rolling Action_ _Plan._ PE 221.848/fin
37 _Effects_ _on employment_ _of the liberalisation_ _of the telecommunications_ _sector,_ BIPE Conseil, IFO Institut and LENTIC
Brussels, 1997; _The impact_ _of_ _télécoms_ _liberalisation_ _on the single integrated_ _information_ _market,_ Analysis, 1996; _The_
_effects_ _of competitition_ _on employment_ _in the telecommunications_ _industry:_ _case_ _Fin/and,_ Price Waterhouse, 1996.

**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_ _Industries_ _[40]_ _,_ 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 face in integrating ICT and 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 survey [41] 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.

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 lb*
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 16 000 software and computing services companies exist in Western Europe, with over 300
000 employees, more than 100 000 independent professionals and small offices employing another 200 000 people. To this
should be added Internet and multimedia software and services, the vast majority of which have less than 20 employees and
many less than 5 employees. (Panorama of Industry 1997)
4 0 COM (97) 152
41 Cf _Europe's_ _500,_ EFER, 1996.This confirms the findings of survey reporting that 4 1 % of firms with less than 200
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 economy [42] 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 ^ ^ ^ ^ R B

_Key action:_ The Commission will :

               - include within the forthcoming 1907 call for proposals concerning _The_ _Thmt_
_System and_ _Bnptoyment_ _[4]_ _^_ 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 survey [44] 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 B3-4013.
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
###### ESF programming to ensure that the Information Society dimension is fully

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.

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 _-_ and [ :] the ; : .
B ï ç j l R ^ _%_ w § pro/yide _w_

:;;f!iporhmissi^ : '.
! [:] *;;;I$ii^ learning Agency arid Met work;
;i|:!|;!p^few; and ir^hsify its n e ^ open and
: d^ employability and facilitate access
JïllÉOil :;:!$i$$ii!i^ ; l l ! ! i ! i i ^ I M ; i long : term
§|||§lifï

## llllt|j^ lillll^

' Following the Commission's 1993 White Paper on _Growth,_ _Competitiveness_ _and Employment_ and the 1995 White Paper
_Teaching and Learning._ _Towards the_ _Know/edge_ _Society._
_'_ The Commission's Action Plan _Learning in the Information_ _Society_ is already addressing certain of these issues.

**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 rapidly [47] to make available information on the
**PES** themselves, training courses, employment programmes and job vacancies.

51. 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 1997.

**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:**_ _**^^^^^^K^MÊMÊë^^Ê^^^^^^^^Ê^^^^^^^^^^M**_

_**Key**_ _**action:**_ 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:**

**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

###### **Glossary of acronyms**

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 the
Information Society
Information and communication technologies
Community Programme for telematic Interchange of Data between
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

##### ISSN 0254-1475

### COM(97) 390 final

# **DOCUMENTS**

#### E N 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

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