New 'i2010' programme to unleash digital services in the EU 

'i2010' is set to replace 'e-Europe 2005' after Information Society and Media Commissioner Viviane Reding announced the EU's new ICT plan at Microsoft's Government Leaders Forum in Prague.

The i2010 objectives spelt out by Reding will be threefold:

• Creating a "borderless European information space" including an "internal market for electronic communication and digital services". The aim is to steer the convergence between internet, telephone and TV through increased competition in key "enabling" services such as high-speed broadband connections. "The use of the internet to provide voice telephony (VoIP) and television will revolutionise the way in which we communicate," said Reding.
• Increasing innovation and investment in ICT by both the private and the public sector. Public-private partnerships are to be given first priority to "keep Europe in the vanguard of developments" of ICT-based services such as e-government. Reding repeated earlier calls for a doubling of EU budgets dedicated to research in ICT (see EurActiv, 19 Jan. 2005).
• Promoting wider access to the information society, for example to the disabled and the elderly (see EurActiv LinksDossier on the 'digital divide'). Reding cited ICT solutions for "assisted living" to "increase the time that older people can live independently in their own homes" and reduce pressures on social welfare and health care budgets. Another example given by Reding are 24 hours a day e-government services which can save "millions of hours for European citizens".

i2010 is set to become one of the Commission's new flagship programmes to support the new Lisbon strategy unveiled by President Barroso before Parliament on 2 February.