The Network Society - University of Massachusetts Amherst

Introduction
Policies of Transition to the
Network Society in Europe
Erkki Liikanen
The Lisbon strategy, launched in Portugal in 2000, recognised the
importance of ICT for growth in modern economies, and opened the
way to the launch of the first eEurope action plan in Feira in June
2000. Since that time parts of the ICT sector have faced a slowdown,
but the information society has continued to expand. The creation of
a favourable environment for the spread of ICT remains an important
responsibility for policy makers.
As information and communication technologies become more
pervasive, the future is very much based on the development of new
services that run on high-speed networks.
These are the areas where public policy can make a difference, stimulating
improvements in productivity growth and in social cohesion.
Broadband is a key enabling technology for the delivery of those
services that will help increase the performance of companies and
public administrations. In Europe we need competitive companies and
better administrations to realise our strategy for economic, social and
environmental renewal.
I will focus on three themes:
Chapter 16
• First, why it is important to increase productivity and innovation
in Europe across all industry and service sectors;
• Second, what is the key role ICTs play in improving Europe’s
economy and how we in the European Union stimulate this
through the eEurope 2005 Action Plan;
• Third, the political approach to sustain the development of
the broadband market.