European e-Inclusion Initiative

Paul TimmersPaul TimmersHead of UnitHead of Unit

ICT for InclusionICT for InclusionEuropean CommissionEuropean Commission

European Information Society

Outside the Information Society

Categories most at risk of exclusion from the Information Society

(Based on Eurostat, 2006. Data not to be summed since factors of exclusion often cohexist)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Disabled At risk ofpoverty

Foreign bornresidents

With lowlevels of

education andnot usingInternet

Employed notusing Internet

Young people(15-24) not

using Internet

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ICT for inclusion and inclusive ICT

Drivers • user rights • ageing • legislation• technology • public budgets

Challenges• Awareness• Acceptance• Mainstreaming• Fragmentation• Priorities

1 in 3 Europeans are left behind35-85 B€ economic opportunity

• Disparities do not disappear and risk to widen

• Exclusion and e-Exclusion reinforce each other

• The economic and innovation potential is huge

• Awareness, technological, legal barriers block progress

• Need for public policy – across portfolios

• Value added at EU level

Why act?

Progress is too slow!

• only 5% public websites accessible (Riga target: 100% in 2010)

• Only seven countries have accessible “112”

• Only 10% of over 64 use internet (Riga target: half the gap in 2010)

• Only 35% of low-educated have basic digital literacy (Riga target: half the gap in 2010)

• Rural broadband divides: 71% coverage (Riga target 90% in 2010)

• …

E-Accessibility deficits

• Text relay services in only half of the Member States

• Accessible emergency services in only 7 Member States

• 1/3rd of public broadcasters programmes with subtitling

• 1/10th of commercial broadcasters pgms with subtitling

• Audio description in only 5 Member States

• Only 5% of key government web sites are accessible

• Few key commercial/sectoral web sites are accessible

• In only 6 Member States ATMs with ‘talking’ output

Economic potential

Riga scenario = halving the gaps

More digital inclusion means:

I. Increasing human / social capital and employability– €30 billion from increased participation to the labour force– €9 billion from increased productivity

II. More citizens buying ICT and boosting ICT industry sales– €10 billion of extra GDP growth from increased ICT industry sales

III. More take-up of eGovernment and efficiency / productivity gains– €7 billion of efficiency gains through transaction costs savings– €30 billion of extra GDP growth from better e-Government

Ageing well potential

• 80+ population doubles until 2050• 60+ population will grow from 20% in 1995 to 25% in 2020• 50+ population, 21% has severe vision/hearing/dexterity problems • Today 4 working for 1 retired, in 2050 only 2 working for 1 retired• Cost of pensions/health/long-term care rise by 4-8 % of GDP by 2025• Shortfall of care staff• === // ===• Wealth and revenues in Europe of persons over 65 is over 3000 B€• Smart homes market will triple between 2005 and 2020• 1,5 B€ p.a. lower costs with tele-health (early patient discharge, Germany)• Tele-care technology at home leads to efficiency gains of 25% (UK)

EU e-Inclusion policy (since 2005)

• March 2005 revised Lisbon jobs & growth

• June 2005 i2010, third pillar

• Sept 2005 e-Accessibility Communication

• July 2006 Riga Ministerial Declaration

• June 2007 Action Plan Ageing well in the information society

• June 2007 Ambient Assisted Living research programme

• Nov 2007 European e-Inclusion Initiative

EU e-Inclusion PolicyEuropean e-Inclusion Initiative

8 Nov 2007

• e-Inclusion matters, is an opportunity, but there is too little progress on ‘Riga’

• Raise awareness and commitment:– Ministerial Debate, 2-3 December 2007– E-Inclusion campaign 2008– Ministerial Conference, 2008

• Enable – Accelerate – Integrate action framework– Broadband; e-accessibility; digital literacy– Ageing well; inclusive e-services; marginalised groups– Cooperation; benchmarking (Riga Dashboard)

E-Accessibility in the European e-Inclusion Initiative (1)

• ICT industry should rapidly commit to putting in place, in the 2008-2010 timeframe, privacy-friendly solutions for persons with sensory, physical, motor and/ or cognitive restrictions to make use of digital TV (accessible DTV) and of electronic communications ('total conversation') notably to safeguard access to emergency services and interoperability (in line with the proposed revision of the e‑Communications Directives), building on their current cooperation with users.

• Industry and users should continue their co-operation with the European Standardisation Organisations to pursue standardisation efforts, notably for public procurement of accessible ICT products and services. They are also expected continue the current cooperation in order to put in place a European training programme on Inclusive ICT Design no later than the end of 2008.

• Member States are called upon to strengthen their follow-up of e-Accessibility requirements in current EU legislation and to agree by mid 2008 on a roadmap for accessibility of public websites.

E-Accessibility in the European e-Inclusion Initiative (2)

• The Commission will co-finance in the 2007 ICT-PSP a pilot on accessible digital TV, intends to fund in the 2008 ICT-PSP a pilot on 'total conversation' and common approaches to web accessibility, notably through a European benchmarking methodology, and will continue to pursue e-Accessibility and assistive technology research in the EU R&D Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

• The Commission will work towards a horizontal legislative approach for an accessible information society, to guarantee equal rights and an effective internal market. A public consultation and an impact assessment in the first half of 2008 will provide input for a possible proposal from the Commission on e-Accessibility legislation in the second half of 2008. In parallel, the Commission will seek to reinforce its proposals to the European Parliament and to the Council on the e-Accessibility dimension in the revised EC Directives on electronic communications.

Ageing well and ICT: barriers

• Older people don’t use the Internet and find technology challenging

• Ageing needs not yet in mainstream products

• Legal and technological barriers

• Fragmented Markets

Ageing Action Plan – 3 wins!

• Quality of life of elderly people, and of their relatives and carers

• Sustainability of health and social services, financially and in staffing

• New jobs and business opportunities for European industries

Ageing Action Plan

1. Raise awareness, shared understanding and common approaches

2. Create the right conditions – remove barriers

3. Prepare for the future through research and innovation – Framework Programme 7 – NEW: Ambient Assisted Living AAL169 Joint Programme

4. Accelerate investment in and take-up of proven solutions

• e-Inclusion campaign• All to act as ambassadors and multipliers• All initiatives welcome, small and large….

– your on-line contributions– your events – publications– e-Inclusion Award Scheme– sponsoring– partnerships– creative ideas!

2008: moving up a gear on e-Inclusion

www.epractice.eu

Make the e-Inclusion agenda a reality

Participate in e-Accessibility consultation

Contribute to the e-Inclusion Campaign

Conclusions