An essential part of the Lisbon strategy, the eEurope 2002 Action Plan68, approved at the Feira Summit in June 2000, comprises a set of action areas to accelerate Europe’s entry into the information society. The action “European youth into the digital age” aims to promote the use of digital technologies and the Internet in European schools and the acquisition of new skills. The essential role of e-Learning in achieving the goals of the eEurope 2002 Action Plan has led to the adoption by the Commission of the eLearning Action Plan mentioned above. In addition, three other actions of the eEurope action plan will facilitate the integration of youth to the information society : “Faster Internet access for researchers and students”, which aims at upgrading research and university networks within the EU; “Working in a knowledge based economy”, which puts emphasis on life-long learning and digital skills; “Participation for all”, with the promotion of public Internet access points. With regards to research and technological development in the area of Information Society, the European Commission has launched several initiatives in order to create a critical mass of resources able to support, guide and stimulate research and innovation in education and training. E-learning technologies will play a fundamental role in ensuring that Europeans have flexible, convenient and cost-effective access to learning resources and services, so that they may develop the essential skills necessary for the knowledge society. Within the IST (Information Society Technologies) research programme, which is part of the 5th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, education and training is one of the key priorities. A certain number of IST projects are currently financed in the Education and Training area, that cover technology development and applications that facilitate the access to and the integration of youth into the information society. • Entrepreneurship In May 2000 the Commission published the Communication on "Challenges for enterprise policy in the knowledge-driven economy" 69, which states that "Education for entrepreneurship is another driver towards a more dynamic enterprise culture. General knowledge about business and entrepreneurship should be taught, right through primary, secondary and higher education" and that "to expand the number of entrepreneurs, enterprise policy will aim at improving the start-up rate among women, young people and the unemployed...". The Forum on "Training for Entrepreneurship" (Nice, October 2000)70 – coorganised by the Commission and the French authorities – has promoted the exchange of best practice in this field and raised awareness at the European level of the objectives that must be achieved. As a follow-up to the conclusions of this Forum and as part of the Multiannual Programme for Enterprise and Entrepreneurship (2001-2005)71, the Commission has launched a "best procedure" project on education and training for entrepreneurship. This will focus on education – from primary school to university – and will aim at 68 69 70 71
“eEurope 2002 – An information society for all. Action Plan” (http://europa.eu.int/eeurope) COM(2000) 256 final (OJ C311E, 31.10.2000, pp. 180-186) http://europa.eu.int/comm/enterprise/entrepreneurship/support_measures/training_education/index.htm OJ L 333, 29.12.2000, pp. 84-91
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