The opening address of Mr Herbert Allgeier, Director of DGXIII/B of the European Commission, at the European Telework Awards in Brussels.

European Policies and Telework Development

“European Telework Week”

3-10 November 1997

H.J. Allgeier

European Commission, DG XIII

Presentation at European Telework Awards

Hotel President WTC

7/11/97

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The coherent development of Telework is of crucial importance for Europe.  Telework brings into focus key aspects of employment in an Information Society.  Its mastery is therefore essential for Europe and its citizens to be able to benefit fully from current evolutions in information and communication technologies.

The European Telework Week, from 3rd to 10th Nov., represents one of the largest public awareness initiatives undertaken at European level.

During this week, over 140 activities will take place; at local, regional and national level.  They will involve industrialists, businesses, Governments - at all levels - trade unions, professional organisations, - and parliamentarians.

Its purpose is threefold:

-to increase public and business awareness;

-to promote “best practice”, and

-to stimulate innovation and new initiatives, especially where this can create new employment.

Why is it necessary?  Why is it important ?

The transformation of our society into an Information Society is inevitable.  This transformation will affect everyone, especially in their work.  It can be beneficial for business and individuals, if we manage it right.

Unfortunately, we have skipped behind in the transformation process.  Investment by European business (and public administrations) in the new tools for work is only half of that in the USA.

Similarly, the use of these new tools is developing more slowly, especially in small businesses.

The potential benefits will only come with a greater public awareness and a wider use of all the possibilities offered by telework.

Why a European framework for national and regional initiatives ?

A real European Economic Space will emerge next year with the achievement of Monetary Union.  Following the agreements in Amsterdam, the social dimension, principally that of employment, of this European integration will be reinforced. 

The European Employment Summit in a few days (21November) in Luxembourg is the first concrete result of this acceptance by Heads of State and Governments of the European dimension to these issues.

However, the Information Society which emerges, cannot be a uniform society.  The way of using new ICTs for work, and therefore the re-thinking of work itself, must reflect regional and national characteristics and traditions.

For these two reasons, the European Telework Week provides a European framework for regional and national initiatives, allowing them all their specificity.

What are the benefits?

With over 2 million Europeans already involved in various forms of telework, there is now enough experience for us to identify benefits and pitfalls.

Firstly, the competitiveness and efficiency of business can be improved.

This can be:

• in better use of skills, where and when necessary;
• in cutting business overheads, without cutting staff;
• in greater responsiveness to customers and markets.

Secondly, the quality-of-life of employees and the self-employed can be improved by:

• greater choice in the place and time of work, without a change in employment status;
• new opportunities to work in rural and remote areas;
• new opportunities for people with limited mobility: the handicapped and people with family responsibilities who cannot travel far or frequently for work.

Finally, there are potential benefits for society as a whole:

• better use of material resources, including buildings and communication infrastructures;
• more rational use of physical transport.

These benefits are highlighted this year by prises to telework initiatives in various categories.  These prises contribute very directly to all three objectives of European Telework Week: They reward and stimulate media coverage of best practice and through this will surely stimulate further innovation.  I therefore congratulate the organisers, the jury and all nominees on their initiative.