Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

33Summary from EPRI meeting 1Jouni Backman, Member <strong>of</strong> Parliament, FinlandUp to now the development <strong>of</strong> the information society has been based too much on technology. Ihave called this development processor-led, referring to the development <strong>of</strong> information technology.It is necessary to change our way <strong>of</strong> thinking to make it process-led. Old operating models fromindustrial society must be revised to respond to new needs and challenges and also opportunities.New information technology provides opportunities, but hopefully not just as a tool for oldoperating models.The shift to the information society has already altered many structures. The hierarchic andbureaucratic approach which mainly works only one way, from the top down, is giving way to anetworking model based on interaction. In many fields, especially in the business world, structuresand operating models have already changed decisively. The political decision-making system andpublic administration still operate on the basis <strong>of</strong> the industrial society’s needs and operatingmodels, however.A society based on information and expertise should also be a genuine civil society. Citizens’ roleshould be expanded in many ways. The precondition is the reform <strong>of</strong> the way in which the politicalsystems operates.New technology provides great opportunities to increase the quality and accountability <strong>of</strong> politicsas well as freedom <strong>of</strong> speech and participation. National parliaments play a key role in this work.Parliaments’ role is dual in nature. Through legislation and the use <strong>of</strong> budget funds they shouldcreate the preconditions for the equal development <strong>of</strong> the information society. At the same timethey should develop their own activities in a more open and modern direction.At the Telework Conference in 1998 in Lisbon a group <strong>of</strong> parlamentarians indicated interest inan exchange <strong>of</strong> experiences <strong>of</strong> national parliaments on the ICT in parliamentary work. It was abroader interest: political and social aspects <strong>of</strong> <strong>European</strong> Information Society developments. Afterthis three Conferences have taken place:• The First Conference in the Assemblée Nationale in Paris in March 1999• The Second Conference in the Greek Parliament in Athens in spring 2000• The Third Conference in the House <strong>of</strong> Commons in London in September 2000.1<strong>European</strong> Parliaments Research Initiative on ICT