ESC Opinion: Information services market (IMPACT II)

On 13 February 1991 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a second phase of the IMPACT programme (COM(90) 570, Official Journal No C 53 of 28.2.1991). The ESC unanimously adopted an Opinion at its 286th...

On 13 February 1991 the Council decided to consult the Economic and Social Committee on the proposal for a Council Decision adopting a second phase of the IMPACT programme (COM(90) 570, Official Journal No C 53 of 28.2.1991). The ESC unanimously adopted an Opinion at its 286th plenary session of 24 April 1991. The Committee strongly supports the proposal, regarding an efficient information services market as crucial to the Community's international competitiveness. The increase of Community funding to ECU 100 million is welcomed; this sum is nevertheless modest. Further comments concern the IMO, removal of legal and administrative barriers, an overall Community strategy (priority for ISDN, standardization of interfaces and terminals, simple access to information, extension of videotex systems, facilities to remove language barriers), training plus support for SMEs. A failure to take greater account of broader issues (overall strategy, personal data protection, the social importance of data services) is regretted.