European ministers set targets for e-inclusion
Ministers from 34 European counties have endorsed a set of 'e-inclusion targets' to make the Internet more accessible to all. Lack of affordability, access, accessibility, skills and motivation are just some of the barriers for the estimated 30 to 40 per cent of Europeans currently unable to benefit from information and communication technologies (ICT). The Riga Ministerial Declaration - as it is now known- was signed by Ministers from EU Member States, accession and candidate countries, and countries of the Free Trade Association (EFTA) and the European Economic Area (EEA) on 12 June. It outlines targets aimed at promoting an inclusive and barrier-free information society which fosters social and economic inclusion, including: - halving the gap in Internet use by 2010 for groups at risk of exclusion, such as older people, people with disabilities, and unemployed persons; - boosting broadband provision to an average of 90 per cent; - ensuring access to all public websites by 2010; - creating requirements for improvements to digital literacy and skills by 2008; - providing recommendations on accessibility standards by 2007 for mandatory use in public procurement by 2010; - assessing the necessity for legislative measures in the field of e-Accessibility. While 2010 may be the cut-off date for many of the targets, ministers called on the Commission to tackle some of the issues deemed urgent by the end of 2006, such as active ageing and independent living in the information society. Welcoming the declaration, EU Information Society and Media Viviane Reding said: 'Enabling all Europeans to participate on equal terms in the information society is not only a social necessity - it is a huge economic opportunity for industry. By implementing their Riga undertakings, European countries will take a big step towards making e-inclusion a reality.' She went on to underline the needed for public authorities at all levels, industry and users 'to work together for a coherent and systematic approach towards an inclusive, barrier-free information society'. The Commission is preparing a set of specific initiatives to tackle digital exclusion in line with the Ministerial Declaration, which will form part of a wider EU Initiative on e-Inclusion in 2008. The policy framework for this will be presented in a communication in 2007. In addition, the Commission says that initiatives to tackle the problem are also foreseen under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), and the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP).
Countries
Latvia