Commission approves collaborative information society programme with Latin America

The European Commission has approved a cooperative information society programme with Latin America aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with the region and building stronger relationships with its research networks and communities. 'Alliance for the information so...

The European Commission has approved a cooperative information society programme with Latin America aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation with the region and building stronger relationships with its research networks and communities.

'Alliance for the information society', or '@lis', with a budget of 85 million euro, seeks to establish dialogue and cooperation on policy and regulatory frameworks in key areas for the development of a widespread information society, in areas such as telecommunications, e-commerce and standardisation. Several innovative projects will be set up in Latin America in order to demonstrate the benefits of information society applications for citizens. The project will be launched officially at the '@lis take off conference' in Seville, Spain in April 2002.

'The European Union attaches great importance to developing the information society in an inclusive manner, and fighting against the digital divide, both within and between regions and countries,' said Erkki Liikanen, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Enterprise. 'This programme will provide us with the means of pursuing these objectives through a long term partnership, bringing tangible social and economical benefits to both regions.'

'The information society should play a key role in deepening our relations between Latin America and the EU,' added Chris Patten, Commissioner for External Relations. 'The European Commission identified last year the information society as the priority sector for region-wide economic cooperation with Latin America. @lis is a strategic project for improved economic development and citizens' participation in the global information society, implementing orientations of the 1999 Rio summit of Heads of State and Government.

Of the programme's 85 million euro budget, up to 63.5 million euro will be provided by the European Commission, and 21.5 million by Latin American and EU partners participating in the programme.