Telework stimulation actions in Europe
As a result of the July 1993 call for accompanying measures and preparatory actions in the field of advanced communications developments, the Commission, DG XIII, decided in November 1993 on a set of actions aimed at stimulating the experimentation and implementation of transnational telework systems. The telework actions were set up as APAS (Actions de Preparation, d'Accompagnement et de Support) measures under the RACE II programme for advanced communications technologies (1990-1994). This programme is now being continued under the specific programme for advanced communications technologies and services (ACTS) as part of the Fourth Framework Programme (1994-1998). Teleworking is one of the main priority areas for new application development put forward by the Bangemann Group on the information society in June 1994. It offers greater flexibility in both the workplace and in working time, by means of the development of new information infrastructures, including networks of cables, optical fibres, radio links and satellites. The principal objectives of the Commission's telework actions, most of which began in January 1994, are to: - Encourage companies to experiment with and implement telework networks; - Examine the practical problems associated with teleworking, particularly across the EU's internal borders; - Evaluate what new developments in technology are required; - Analyse the impact on business organization, industrial competitiveness, the environment, and energy consumption; - Provide support and coordination for regional and national initiatives in this field. In particular, the actions will: - Establish an up-to-date listing of all major new developments in telework (TELDET); - Set up a single point of contact for help in resolving trans-European problems and coordinate national and regional initiatives in this area through the actions of the European Telework Forum (ECTF, in the framework of the ADVANCE project); - Develop codes of practice for the management of teleworkers (PRACTICE); - Stimulate large organizations to make use of telework networks to decentralize their activities (WORKNET and PROLINK); - Promote the development of neighbourhood telework centres (TWIN, OFFNET, EXPUN and HRM Telework Centres); - Explore the special problems faced by small businesses in telework collaboration, particularly across national borders; - Assess the capacity of telework to reduce traffic congestion in large urban areas (TELEEURBA).