Adoption of a document relevant for the future of all EU citizens – “Gdansk Roadmap for Digital Inclusion” – concluded the “Innovation for Digital Inclusion” conference in Gdansk, Poland. It’s participants drafted the “Roadmap” in order to indicate to the European Commission the priority actions to be taken in the immediate future.
Carrying out of these actions may speed up the process of digital inclusion for 150 millions Europeans who are thus far excluded, and deliver a new and much needed impetus for EU’s economies struggling to overcome the current crisis. Importance of the document was underlined by Neelie Kroes, Vice President of the European Commision responsible for Digital Agenda, herself present in Gdańsk.
“Gdansk Roadmap for Digital Inclusion” was drafted as a result of on-line cooperation in weeks leading up to the conference, with the involvement of e-inclusion specialists from throughout Europe. The simple fact that authors recruited from among practitioners who are on a daily basis engaged in e-inclusion and who possess a good knowledge of needs and obstacles standing in way of e-inclusion, only adds to the value of the “Roadmap.”
“Our document provides inspiration to all sides actively promoting e-inclusion, outlining strategies and concepts combating digital divide and defining European inclusion policies,” stated Krzysztof Głomb, the president of “Cities on Internet” Association, at the document’s unveiling. The initiator and co-organizer of the Gdańsk conference stresses that authors of the document paid particular attention to the value of digital education. “This corresponds with the opinion by the European Economic and Social Committee prepared and adopted in mid July of this year. According to the Committee, access to infrastructure and tools should be considered as a fundamental right, but without the education e-inclusion of digitally illiterate Europeans will not be accomplished,” Krzysztof Głomb adds.
For more information, please visit: http://innodig.eu/en
