Sep 7 2005
Key European players from business and Government gathered at the i2010 conference in London this week to help Europe rise to the challenge of the future of EU Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) policy.
The conference reflected the key contribution that ICT must make to EU growth, jobs and competitiveness by looking at the benefits that can be derived from:
- an open and competitive market in ICT services;
- increased and more effective investment in ICT research and development; and
- the ability for everyone to use ICT services effectively.
Speaking at the conference, Alun Michael, Industry and the Regions Minister said:
"Forty per cent of European productivity is due to ICT but our counterparts elsewhere in the world are doing even more to harness these economic benefits of ICT. We must not be complacent in Europe - we must raise our game. The i2010 Strategy is our blueprint to make Europe the most competitive and knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010.
"We need to ensure that the i2010 Strategy truly delivers the economic and social benefits of the digital revolution for the citizens of Europe in the 21st Century.
" Achieving this is not just for the Commission or for governments. It is up to all of us in Europe to take the i2010 Strategy forward. I hope that today will help us identify and set priorities, recognising what we all need to do to make this strategy a success."
Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media, said in her keynote speech at the i2010 conference:
"The EU and its Member States need to give a clear and determined answer to the economic challenges we are currently facing in Europe. Many of our citizens are concerned about their jobs and about their future. We will not be able to address these concerns efficiently if we resort to economic policy instruments of the past, or even to protectionism.
"We will only strengthen economic growth and thereby create more and better jobs for Europeans if we open our markets, if we invest into ICT as the most productive sectors of the economy, and if we make sure that superfluous regulation is abolished.
"This is what the i2010 initiative, adopted by the EU Commission on 1 June, is about, and I am grateful that the UK Presidency is giving, with today's event, such strong support to a modern European policy for the ICT and media industry."
This flagship UK Presidency ICT event gives government and business the opportunity to debate the i2010 Strategy to ensure that Europe makes the best use of ICTs. The aim of the i2010 Strategy is to ensure that Europe improves its industrial competitiveness, supports growth and the creation of jobs and aims to address key social challenges.
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