eWORK 2000 - European Telework Week

New Ways to Work 2000European TeleworkForewordThis report on the status of "eWork" development in Europe marks the beginning of a new phase ofEuropean co-operation in the shift to a digital, knowledge-based economy.This new phase has now a new common policy framework: the agreements at the Lisbon Summit inMarch 2000 to make Europe "the most competitive and dynamic knowledge-based economy,capable of sustained economic growth with more and better jobs and greater social cohesion".Substantial progress towards this goal will be realised through implementation of the e-EuropeAction Plan agreed in June 2000.The new phase of European co-operation is also supported by the 5 th Framework Programme forResearch and Technology development, notably in the Key Action on "New Methods of Work". Afirst set of European projects are now underway and are described in this report.This new phase also has the broader scope of "ework" development for a substantial proportion ofthe European workforce. This includes continued development of telework, with its now provenbenefits of flexibility in time and place. However, it now also anticipates the revolution in work formost people as new wireless and display technologies change office equipment and design, and as thenature of work itself changes in a knowledge economy where the creativity and innovation becamemore important than simple productivity in routine tasks.This report is again the joint effort of many people across Europe. We hope that it will be both apoint of reference and a source of inspiration.The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the EuropeanCommission.Peter JohnstonJohn Nolan- 3 -