Dr Paul Timmers, Head of Unit - ICT for Inclusion, speaks about the latest EU policies on e-Inclusion, and the role that self-service solutions providers need to play in ensuring their success. Despite technological progress and enhanced competition, more than one in three Europeans are still excluded from fully benefiting from the digital society. In the Declaration made in Riga in 2006, EU Ministers committed themselves to clear targets, for example to halve the gaps in internet use and in digital literacy, and to achieve 100% accessibility of public websites by 2010. Progress remains fragmented and slow, despite such targets and many actions involving public authorities, industry and civil society. Most of the Riga objectives will not be met on time. Accessibility of public websites remains stuck at 5%. Only 10% of people aged over 64 are Internet users while the average in Europe is 47%. The latest assessments conducted for the Commission show that accessibility of websites, ICT-enabled emergency services, TV sets and other ICT remains problematic, with lower-educated, economically inactive and elderly people at the greatest risk of being left behind. Amongst other actions, during 2008, the Commission will raise awareness through the campaign called “e-Inclusion, be part of it!”, including a Ministerial Conference towards the end of the year, to demonstrate real progress and to reinforce commitments at all levels. All relevant players are encouraged to contribute, sharing with others their efforts to promote e-Inclusion. To read the complete interview with Paul Timmers - log on to: http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/newsroom/cf/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=4052

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14 May 2008
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