EU task force to tackle IT skills shortage?
A proposal to set up a task force to solve the problem of the IT skills shortage in Europe found strong support at an informal meeting between Member State ministers for employment and telecommunications on 16 February in Luleå, Sweden. Attending the meeting were Erkki Liikanen, European Commissioner for Enterprise and information society, Anna Diamantopoulou, European Commissioner for Employment and social affairs, Sweden's Minister for Industry and, employment and communications and also chairman of the Transport and telecommunications council during the Swedish Presidency, Björn Rosengren and chairman of the Employment and social affairs council, Ms Mona Sahlin. The IT skills shortage was presented as an EU-wide problem requiring common measures at both national and EU level and cooperation between all the parties concerned: the public sector, the business community, the social partners and individuals. 'A partnership is essential if we are to solve these problems,' said Mona Sahlin. Equality of opportunity in the IT sector was highlighted as extremely important at the meeting. If conditions allowing people to benefit from new technology are not created, the result could be social exclusion and wider gaps between rich and poor, ministers emphasised. Women must also be able to participate fully in IT developments, stressed the meeting participants. The meeting emphasised that IT must not only be accessible to all, but that everyone must also have contributed to its development.