Ministers agreed that initiatives that attempt to remove technical, legal and other barriers preventing the participation of people with disabilities are key to achieving the Lisbon goal of becoming the most competitive knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010. Emphasising the importance of e-inclusion and ways of resolving accessibility issues is also significant as it comes during the European year of disability.
Considering the potential beneficial impact e-inclusion could have for European society, Ministers recommended that e-inclusion public policies should be included in all relevant thematic domains, such as eGovernment, eLearning, eHealth and eAccessibility. This could be achieved through proactive and early involvement in current and future technological, legal and regulatory developments. Furthermore, technologies such as digital TV and 3G mobile communications should be developed in such as way so as to reduce barriers and to exhibit greater accessibility, suggested ministers.
With a view to this, ministers called for the implementation of a set of actions, specifically devoted to e-inclusion, as part of the eEurope 2005 action plan. Ministers also pointed to the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) as an important facilitator of e-inclusion. Currently, activities in this area are mainly covered by the e-inclusion strategic objective in Priority 2 (IST), but additional areas might be possible through other priorities, mainly Priority 8 (support to EU policies) and perhaps Priority 7 (citizens and governance in a knowledge society).
However, e-inclusion initiatives should also be carried out at national level. Ministers noted that measures could be put in place through national operation programmes for information society. This would help consolidate best practices and enable monitoring and benchmarking efforts in Europe. Furthermore, Member States could join efforts to exchange experiences in order to harmonise procurement polices and strengthen the role of standards in order to meet the needs of citizens, said ministers.
Another recommendation, with regard to empowering citizens with disabilities was the creation of an accessibility ombudsman. Information points could also provide useful feedback on standardisation activities and their impact on the real life situation of all citizens.
With regard to providing a favourable industrial environment for e-inclusion, ministers stressed the need for technology providers, particularly from the mainstream industry, to address accessibility in their products and services. Furthermore the assistive technology sector should receive support enabling it to respond to eAccessibility by becoming receptive to change and accustomed to the use of new technologies. Industry should also be willing to invest in research and development, and competent in transforming research findings into new high quality products and services, in anticipation of the demands of an increased client base and a digitally literate Europe, concluded ministers.
For further information, please visit: www.eu2003.gr/en/articles/2003/4/11/2502/
For more information about the e-inclusion strategic objective, please visit: www.cordis.lu/ist/so/einclusion/home.html
Quelle: Cordis
