"We must put the interests of Europe's citizens and businesses at the forefront of the digital revolution and so maximise the potential of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) to advance job creation, sustainability and social inclusion", said Commission Vice-President for the Digital Agenda Neelie Kroes. "The ambitious strategy set out today shows clearly where we need to focus our efforts in the years to come. To fully realise the potential of Europe's digital future we need the full commitment of Member States, the ICT sector and other vital economic players."

The Agenda outlines seven priority areas for action:

• creating a digital Single Market
• greater interoperability
• boosting internet trust and security
• much faster internet access
• more investment in research and development
• enhancing digital literacy skills and inclusion and
• applying information and communications technologies to address challenges facing society like climate change and the ageing population.

Boost cutting-edge research and innovation in ICT

The action plan states that Europe must invest more in R&D and ensure our best ideas reach the market. The Agenda aims to inter alia leverage private investments with European regional funding and increasing EU research funding to ensure that Europe keeps up with and even surpasses its competition. EU investment in ICT research is less than half US levels (€37 billion compared to €88 billion in 2007).

Source and further information: RAPID.