Report outlines Member States IS strategies
A report produced as part of the ESIS (European survey of information society) project under the Information Society DG's PROMISE programme has been published, providing an overview of Member States' Information Society (IS) strategies. This information is intended to provide a tool for benchmarking, knowledge, communication, partnership and the promotion of best practice examples. It will also serve as a navigation tool for all key actors and help in the promotion of IS in Europe. The report highlights that the Information Society is now a top priority for all European Union governments, and emphasises that all Member States have devoted significant resources to raising awareness, developing infrastructures, defining regulatory frameworks, establishing education programmes and investing in application and service pilots. It also notes that these efforts will be substantially reinforced in the coming years, with huge amounts of funding being engaged. New public IS policies are more integrated and consistent, states the report. It is becoming increasing clear that information and communications technologies (ICTs) have a major impact on the organisation and functioning of society. ICT consequences therefore have to be taken into account in all areas of public policy in a coordinated manner. The report has been prepared bearing the eEurope initiative in mind, and its emphasis on data collection and benchmarking Information Society developments. The eEurope initiative recognises the central role to be played by the Member States of the EU in achieving the targets of the Lisbon European Council, and setting further targets, providing adequate funding and removing obstacles to the development of the Information Society.