1996 - European Telework Week

Foreword
FOREWORD
Today telework is on the agenda of many companies and national administrations. Its
development is part of national and European strategies for the Information Society.
With the publication of the White Book on Growth, Competitiveness and Employment,
the European policy focus is on its contribution to employment, and many services of the
Commission are now involved with aspects of telework. Telework is prominent in the
activities of DG XIII (ACTS and Telematics research programmes), DG V (Social Funds
and Social Policy), DG III (ESPRIT and Industry Policy), and others.
The exploratory "Actions for Stimulation of Transborder Telework" in the area of
advanced communications, and brought together more than 200 organisations from all
member states in 33 projects. As a result, 30.000 people all over Europe have
experienced a permanent change in their working habits; 15.000 people were reached
directly through conferences and project presentations, etc. Projects not only focused on
the possibilities of using information and communications technologies, but also assessed
the impact on working and living.
Telework ‘96 is the third, and last, in a series of publications reporting on the results of
these actions, which extended from January 1994 until December 1996. In addition, it
describes other telework initiatives now underway, and links the ACTS programme to
other Commission initiatives.
In 1995 the 2nd European Assembly on New Ways to Work (Telework '95) and the first
European Telework Week (9 - 16 November 1995) again showed that there was great
and growing interest for transnational cooperation and for exchange of experience in
implementing new work practices.
New ways of working using advanced communications and information technology have
become an everyday practice for an increasingly large number of Europeans. However,
the real growth has still to come, and the debates on impact and best practice need to
continue. This report, and the CD ROM will provide important input for those debates.
Peter Johnston
Maarten Botterman
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