A Ministerial Conference hosted by Latvia took place on 11 and 12 June on the topic “Digital Integration” under the Chair of Federal Minister Ursula Haubner, representing the Austrian Council Presidency.
An integrative information society is right at the top of the European Union’s political priority list. The new “digital possibilities” of the information society should also be available to those who have up to now been excluded.
The EU has ambitious aims to considerably increase access to information, communication, and information and communication technology (ICT) services by 2010, particularly to the elderly, the disabled, women, low-skilled workers and disadvantaged young people. With Minister for Social Affairs Ursula Haubner in the chair for the Austrian Presidency and in the presence of the European Commissioner for Information Society and Media, Viviane Reding, a high-level ministerial conference devoted itself to a broad integrative approach in the field of ICT.
“The potential of the new information and communication technologies offers many opportunities for social integration, communication and participation, therefore products and services must be made accessible to isolated and older people or those with special needs. For me this is a must, otherwise progress in ICT will bring with it new exclusion and a new two-class society,” stated Ursula Haubner.
Although worldwide digital networking is possible, enormous geographical and regional restrictions still remain due to the lack of connections to broadband networks. For this reason, access to broadband networks is to be made available to 90% of the population by 2010 – this is a considerable contribution to economic recovery.
Email Service
Accreditation
Hotel Reservation
Route Planner
Weather