[eccr] The eEurope 2002 Action Plan has been a success in bringing Europe on-line

Title: The eEurope 2002 Action Plan has been a success in bringing Europe on-line

The eEurope 2002 Action Plan has been a success in bringing Europe on-line

The eEurope 2002 Action Plan, designed to bring Europe online as fast as possible, has been a major success, according to the Commission's eEurope 2002 Final Report, adopted today. The eEurope 2002 Action Plan was launched at the European Council at Feira in June 2000. The report shows that the number of households connected has more than doubled and nearly all schools and businesses are now online. Europe now has the world's fastest research network. Thanks to the political momentum generated by the Action Plan, a new and modern legal framework for electronic communication services and e-commerce was adopted at European level and will enter into force this summer. Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner responsible for Enterprise and Information Society said, "Greater connectivity and investment in information and communications technologies are the main building blocks for improved productivity in Europe, if coupled with reorganisation of processes in business and administration and an emphasis on skills. The targets set by eEurope have been essential to help Europe on the way to meet the Lisbon target of becoming more competitive by 2010. Now we must look ahead and focus on how broadband may be made generally available to Europeans so that the speed of change can increase".

The Action Plan was comprised of a total of 64 targets, each of which were to be achieved by the end of 2002. The present Communication presents a final report on the action plan and an analysis of its impact. Where does Europe stand now?

Internet connectivity has grown rapidly. In 2002, more than 90% of schools and businesses were online, more than half of Europeans were regular Internet users and 43 percent of Europe's households are now connected to the Internet. Europe now has the fastest backbone research network in the world (GEANT). Widespread take up of high-speed connections by households and SMEs is going to be the next challenge.

A legislative framework for electronic communications and for e-commerce has been agreed and will enter into force this summer. Telecommunication prices have fallen, competition has increased and will continue to do so. For e-commerce, a series of Directives have been adopted to increase certainty in e-commerce transactions, in particular cross-border trade, and to ensure an adequate level of consumer protection.

Increasing effective use of the Internet is the focus of the next step, the eEurope 2005 Action Plan. This means for example, more firms using e-commerce; schools not only connected but also making full use of the Internet in class; government services offered online and fully interactive, more use in the health sector where there are great demands for up-to-date information. More training is needed and action must be taken to ensure all Europeans have the opportunity to take advantage of the chances offered by digital technologies.

An associated Staff Working paper, eEurope 2002: Progress made in Achieving the Targets, provides a description of the progress made in relation to each of the 64 targets of eEurope 2002.

The Communication and other relevant documents are available at:

http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/news_library/index_en.htm