ACTIVITIES :: e-Inclusion

e-Inclusion

e-Inclusion award winners announced at conclusion of 2008 e-Inclusion: Be Part of It! campaign

02-12-2008

The winners of the 2008 European e-Inclusion Awards were announced last night at the e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference in Vienna, the concluding event of the Commission's 'Be Part of it!' campaign. Seven European initiatives have been selected for their innovative uses of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to promote digital and social inclusion in Europe. The Commission also announced the adoption of its Communication 'Towards an Accessible Information Society', setting strategic orientations on accessibility of ICT (e-accessibility) and in particular on the accessibility of websites by persons with disabilities. More details on the winners.

Communication "Towards an accessible information society"

01-12-2008

Today the European Commission has adopted the Communication "Towards an accessible information society". Read More.

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Highlights

New Reports on e-Accessibility

28-11-2008

European e-Inclusion Awards Shortlist announced

15-10-2008

Thirty-five initiatives from public, private, charitable and community organisations, across Europe have been short listed as finalists for the 2008 European e-Inclusion Awards. Out of these finalists, seven winners will be selected on 1st December in Vienna, as part of the e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference and Exhibition. Judges singled these out for their innovative uses of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to help digitally and socially excluded Europeans play a more active part in society.

Read the press release

Event announcement: an e-Inclusion Ministerial Conference will be held from 30 November to 2 December 2008 in Vienna

21-08-2008

The conference aims at accelerating progress towards an information society for all (digital inclusion), in order to combat social and economic exclusion. The conference will acknowledge the many actions that are taking place all over Europe during 2008 and that contribute to the European e-Inclusion Initiative. It will provide a forum to discuss policies to achieve an inclusive, barrier-free, information society and the related social and economic benefits. An exhibition will feature the best in e-Inclusion in Europe and worldwide, with amongst others an e-Inclusion Awards finalists village, an experience space and commercial displays.

Some 1200 participants are expected, including European Ministers, high level representatives of industry and NGOs, and members of groups at risk of exclusion (participation is by invitation only). The conference is jointly organised by the European Commission and the hosting Austrian Government, in cooperation with the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. To know more about the conference.

NEW: Staff Working Paper towards a renewed Social Agenda for Europe

Read more details on Citizens’ Well-being in the Information Society here

On 2 July 2008 as part of the Renewed Social Agenda, the Commission published a Staff Working Paper on the contributions of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) to the welfare and social cohesion of European citizens and on the initiatives that the Commission is going to undertake in this area during 2008.

The Staff Working Paper addresses how planned policy initiatives in the area of the Information Society and Media can contribute to the benefit of citizens in terms of improved social and territorial cohesion as well as in terms of welfare to consumers. It also stresses relevant policy measures for the future sustainability of a number of social services in the area of healthcare, social care and government services.

Major new commitment to ambient assisted living

By 2020, 25% of the EU's population will be over 65. To respond to this growing demographic challenge, the Council of Ministers approved today a Commission plan to make Europe a hub for developing digital technologies designed to help older people to continue living independently at home. The proposal, presented by the Commission on 14 June 2007, will provide some additional €150 million funding to a new European Joint Research Programme, resulting in a total investment of over €600 million. Through this new programme companies will be able to develop highly innovative digital products and services to improve the lives of older people at home, in the workplace and in society in general. Smart devices for improving security at home, mobile solutions for vital sign monitoring and user friendly interfaces for those with impaired vision or hearing – all of which will improve the quality of life of elderly people, their careers and families. See the Press Release and read more about this initiative.

What is e-Inclusion?

E-inclusion ('e' standing for electronic) aims to ensure that disadvantaged people are not excluded due to their lack of digital literacy or internet access. E-inclusion also means taking new advantages of new opportunities offered by digital and technical services for the inclusion of socially disadvantaged people and less-favoured areas. The Information Society has the potential to distribute knowledge more equally and to offer new job opportunities, by overcoming the traditional barriers to mobility and geographic distance.

A separate Information Society for All page provides further information about different aspects of this theme, particularly those highlighted by the 2006 Riga ministerial declaration:

e-Accessibility;
Ageing;
Competences, in relation with Education & training / Skills and with Employment;
Socio-Cultural e-Inclusion, in relation with Social Affairs ( Knowledge Society / Themes);
Geographical e-Inclusion, in relation with EU Regions and Regional policy - Cohesion and structural funds;
and Inclusive e-Government.