The president of the European Commission, Romano Prodi, last week launched the European Union’s initiative to bring the digital revolution to the masses and futurize the continent. Prodi said the internet was the most significant development since the industrial revolution. He said he wants every citizen, home, school and business online, an economy supportive to new ideas, and no technology haves-not.
The eEurope initiative focuses on 10 key areas. It aims to put computers in schools, it aims to lower net access costs through competition, and it wants to put e-commerce legislation on the statute books in double-quick time. It wants to speed up access for academics, ensure the disabled have access to technology, and help small business get their hands on venture capital. Healthcare, transport and open government are also issues in the new policy.
The EC wants to get the initiative adopted by member states during the Portuguese presidency next year, during a policy meeting in Lisbon, before being further developed in April during an Information Society ministerial conference.
