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Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

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40Europe is now a leading actor in many applicati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> mobile communicati<strong>on</strong> systems. Thisleading positi<strong>on</strong> has been obtained through substantial investments in infrastructure, educati<strong>on</strong>,research and development activities. Also liberalisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the telecommunicati<strong>on</strong> market hasplayed an important role in this development. The positi<strong>on</strong> as the leading actor can be preservedthrough the purposeful pursuit towards a sustainable knowledge-based society, eEurope. In support<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this pursuit, the <str<strong>on</strong>g>European</str<strong>on</strong>g> Council recently adopted the new <str<strong>on</strong>g>European</str<strong>on</strong>g> strategy for sustainabledevelopment, and the EU’s latest framework programme for research and technology focuses <strong>on</strong>themes <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> knowledge-based ec<strong>on</strong>omy and sustainable development.The emergence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the informati<strong>on</strong> society also has local and regi<strong>on</strong>al aspects. Utilisati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the ICTand e-work practices can <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>fer new visi<strong>on</strong>s for the alleviati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the local and regi<strong>on</strong>al disparitiesin the ec<strong>on</strong>omic development. Ignoring distances and borders, the ICT provides new opportunitiesfor locating producti<strong>on</strong> and work in areas where it has not been pr<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g>itable before. E-work and<strong>telework</strong>ing are the mainstream <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this new type in creating local and regi<strong>on</strong>al employment. TheICT will help to relocate knowledge work closer to the available resources and alleviate thepotential skill shortages. Investments in infrastructure, the provisi<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> electr<strong>on</strong>ic services andthe acquisiti<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> educati<strong>on</strong> and skills to keep up with the requirements <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the knowledge-basedec<strong>on</strong>omy are the basic building blocks <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> this process. Private enterprises are in a key positi<strong>on</strong> inthe relocati<strong>on</strong> <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> knowledge work.Gradual progress towards a sustainable knowledge ec<strong>on</strong>omy is an established feature <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the EU’spolicy. The new multiyear programme for eEurope has been launched, and in the coming years theEU will also c<strong>on</strong>tribute substantially to starting and financing research projects in this field. Theaim <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the policy is the inclusive and sustainable knowledge-based society. E-work is in the heart<str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> <str<strong>on</strong>g>European</str<strong>on</strong>g> thinking.

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