Europe's Digital Competitiveness Report [antikvár]

urope remains a global force in advanced information and communication teciinologies (ICT). The World Wide Web, the mobile GSM standard, the MPEG standard for digital content and ADSL technology were all invented in Europe. Maintaining this leadership position and turning it into a competitive advantage is an important policy goal. This is why in 2005 the Commission presented the i20i0 strategy to boost Europe's lead in ICT and to unlock the benefits of the information society for European growth and jobs'. This strategy outlined concrete policy measures: • To boost the single market for businesses and users by eliminating regulatory obstacles and enhancing regulatory consistency in the télécoms sector and for audiovisual media services (in particular TV and video-on-demand); services accessible to all; safer, smarter, cleaner and energy-efficient transport and by putting the cultural heritage of the EU at our fingertips by creating the European digital library. Over the past four years, ICT policies have confirmed their role as a major driver of Europe's economic and social modernisation and have made Europe more resilient in times of crisis. Today, they are firmly anchored in European core policies for growth and jobs. All EU Member States have ICT policies and consider them a key contributor to national growth and jobs under the renewed Lisbon agenda, izoio has also influenced other policy areas, such as the Single Market and the Consumer Agenda. ICT policies today are implemented through various instruments, such as the Structural Funds or the Rural Development Funds. To stimulate ICT research and innovation in Europe by pooling public and private research funding and focusing it on areas where Europe is or can become a global leader, such as on LTE (long-term evolution) mobile technology, which will revolutionise wireless broadband, or ESC (electronic stability control), which helps prevent car accidents in case of sudden manoeuvres or on slippery roads; To ensure that all citizens benefit from Europe's lead in ICT, in particular through first-class online public ICT, and in particular the broadband internet, is a crucial component of the European economic recovery plan^ ICT accounts for half of the rise in EU productivity and available high-speed broadband is key to new jobs, new skills, new markets and cutting costs. It is essential to businesses, public services and to making the modern economy work. This has been recognised in the Commission's proposals to speed up economic recovery by smart investments in broadband networks in rural areas, endorsed by the European Council, up to €1.02 billion.