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March 02, 2005
EU Enlargement Futures
ICTs Final Report
The Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Panel report is organised in 3 parts with a conclusion summarising the most important challenges and threats on the way towards an Information Society (IS) in the candidate countries (CC13). The first part focuses on the communication infrastructure available in CC13. Particular attention has been paid to the digital divide in the CC13 and the ability of local industry to implement advanced technologies and supply state-of-the-art equipment and services. The second part outlines the recent development towards provision of new services and content through communication networks. An important aspect is the availability of public access points and the involvement of all stakeholders in the process of building info-structures and provision of high-quality services and content to the general public. The third part addresses the critical issue of the competency of the population and workforce. It highlights the challenges for CC13 of introduction ICTs in education, realising the life-long learning concept and meeting the requirements for skilled workers and managers of the knowledge-based economy. The fourth part summarises the most important challenges for
EU and national policy with regard to the building up of a competitive (ICT) economy, the outlook for employment and skills, their potential impact on governance and the complex nature of the digital divide in the candidate countries.
Electronic Payment Systems
Strategic and Technical Issues
The first Background Paper of the Electronic Payment Systems Observatory (ePSO) identifies the strategic and technical issues that will be discussed in the ePSO Forum - an online discussion group consisting of payment systems experts and a broad range of market players. The discussion will concentrate on electronic retail payment systems - focussing on the needs of the consumers, merchants and SMEs. While in principle all electronic retail payment systems will be analysed, special emphasis will be given to payment methods in the context of electronic commerce on the Internet and the development of cross-border payment systems. The issues that have been identified are grouped around eight broad categories: e-money, enhanced access products, micro-payment solutions, payment systems infrastructure, regulation and innovation, standardisation and interoperability, consumer protection, anonymity, privacy and security and integration of payments into online transactions.
You can download the full report in .pdf format here
The Digital Divide
A Research Perspective
This report addresses issues related to the definition of the term "Digital Divide". It proposes a more structured approach to the problems and examines the current state of the art of research in this field. From this analysis it derives a number of conclusions, recommendations with regard to the main elements of digital divide discussions and highlights areas which are in need of further research.
You can download the full report in .pdf format here