Social Consequence of Information and Communication, Technologies and the European Union : Policy Links

The issue of social consequences of Information and Communication Technologies has always been at the top of not only the political but also research and innovation agenda of the European Union. The move towards a European Information Society has placed severe demands on the adaptability of those concerned to economic and social changes while analysing and mitigating any adverse consequences and to avoid the emergence of a two-tier society and face moral and ethical challenges. Several initiatives have been launched by EU institutions and the Commission in particular to prepare the road towards a European Information Society. This paper first discusses EU initiatives from a research and innovation policy point of view and in particular RTD and deployment programmes such as IST, eTEN, eContent. It then analyses the need for designing and implementing a policy initiative at European Union level for promoting the positive impact of Information Society funded RTD and deployment results on other EU policies as diverse as environment, transport, public health, and establishing a permanent framework for linking information society to other EU policies and the so-called Brussels microcosm of EU policy makers. Finally it presents the “Information Society policy Link” initiative and in particular its first year results and policy implications on other social responsibility aspects for employers, employees and the State.