Abschlußvortrag von Erkki Liikanen, EU-Kom-missar für Unternehmen und Informations-gesellschaft auf dem DLM-Forum‘99 für Archivstandards am 19.10.1999 in Brüssel.
It is a great pleasure for me to have the opportunity to address you today on the occasion of the DLM-FORUM ‘99.
The leading theme for DLM-FORUM ‘99 was chosen as: European Citizens and Electronic Information: The Memory of the Information Society. The theme is important, whatever observation angle or section of the Information Society is chosen. The development of the Information Society has many direct and indirect impacts on the citizen and the interface between the citizen and the new services and applications is put into action by digital means.
The European Information Society
A number of building blocks have been identified for the European Information Society. On the road to the European Digital Economy the key issues are job opportunities and creation of new jobs, the necessary skills and training programmes, and a strengthened marketplace for information society applications and services. Open access to information sources and communication channels should be provided for all of us. In addition, the Information Society for Europeans should be built on the core values of European social and cultural heritage, equity, social inclusion and diversity. Social exclusion based on age, gender, race, disability, unemployment or any other reason is not acceptable. Moreover, the European way should reflect strong commitment in relation to environmental issues and promoting European values in the international fora. The European challenge is to establish a sound balance in between economic and social aspects in implementing the Information Society. There is a need for broad societal consensus and partnerships bringing together different skills and expertise. Europe has a good chance to succeed in entering the Information Society taking into account its strengths in education, literature, media and arts. However, too often it seems to lack entrepreneurship that would lead to commercial success and would be recognised worldwide. The European success is measured through competitiveness in the global environment. Europe has its potential, still often unlocked, but the time is running short. Europeans have to ensure that they are key players in the future global Information Society.
Advances in information processing and communications technologies are opening new exciting horizons. There is a strong shift from stand-alone systems to networking. As the basic technologies and infrastructures are on place, the vital issue is content: information in all its forms and variations, new applications and services. The European Commission has several means to push the Information Society: through regulation, through research and development investments and by awareness raising and promotion actions. The key action areas of the Information Society Technologies Programme as part of the 5th Framework Programme of research and development reflect the direction of prorities seen today: systems and services for the citizen, new methods of work and electronic commerce and multimedia content and tools, as prior examples. Skills to manage digital content, education and training in content production for different audiences, human language engineering and multilinguity, and information access, filtering, analysis are priorities.
DLM-FORUM as co-operation platform
The European Council, in its conclusions of June 17th 1994, considered that archives constitute a significant part of the cultural heritage of European significance referred to in Article 128 of the Treaty establishing the European Community. It was recommended that a multidisciplinary forum would be established to find solutions for the management, storage, conservation and retrieval of machine-readable data. Public administrations and national archives services, as well as representatives of industry and of research were invited to take active part in this kind of a forum. The DLM-FORUM, organised jointly by the Member States and the European Union in December 1996 brought together these counterparts to develop the Memory of the Information Society. As a concrete result of this co-operation, guidelines on best practices for using electronic information and how to deal with machine-readable data and electronic documentation have been produced. This work illustrates the value of joint efforts made by different disciplines of public administration, archives, industry and research.
Objectives for DLM-FORUM ‘99 included the improvement of direct access to electronic information for the citizen and the contribution to the functioning of democracy through well kept and accessible digital archives. The work of DLM-FORUM ‘99 has been conducted within streams like: creation, preservation and access to electronic information, covering economical and functional aspects, the political and legal aspects of the memory of the Information Society, and dissemination of electronic information to the European citizen, giving strong priority to societal aspects. All this clearly reminds me of the importance to see the role of electronic archives on one hand as the storage, the reservoir of recorded files, and on the other hand, as an evolving open access service function unlocking the immense potential hidden in the electronic information storages.
Challenge for the industry
The Information Society is powered by applications and services that meet the demands of customers.There is a need for field-tested solutions available in a competitive environment. There is a need to create a stronger marketplace for these solutions, which have to be user-friendly, easy to implement and based on international standards providing true interconnectivity and interoperability. For the industry, standardisation is a matter of product development and marketing policy. For the customer, solutions which offer openness are confidence-building and provide better return on investment. Management of electronic records and archiving cannot be regarded as isolated issues. They are basic functions deeply related and interconnected to other information administration and office systems type of applications. From the customer and user point of view record management and basic archiving facilities have to function even if new information processing systems, applications and services are installed. For all counterparts it is important to make the right choices between existing standards and practices. This should also be the trigger and motivator to strengthened co-operation between the parties.
Services based upon public sector information
The recent Green Paper of the Commission on public sector information in the Information Society states that public sector information plays a fundamental role in the proper functioning of the internal market and the free circulation of goods, services and people. It is also stated that small and medium sized companies and citizens and consumers cannot make a good use of public information nationally and, especially on crossborder basis. Increasing use of electronic media to store and disseminate public sector information can serve to improve the situation. Comparisons between the state-of-play, especially in terms of legislation, in different Member States has been done. Concrete actions to improve the situation have been taken in certain Member States and still wider concern is expected soon. The Green Paper also takes note that the format of public sector information may often be unattractive and difficult to access. Citizens and businesses alike can be seen as customers of public sector information services and they should be served well. This requires information search mechanisms, meta-data technology, directories and many other tools to be implemented. In addition, issues like pricing policies, competition rules, copyright, privacy and liability have to be addressed. I want to reflect back to my comment on the role of electronic archives as an evolving open access service function with a mission in unlocking public sector information to the customers. This area of service is immense and should wake the interest of industry and act as basis for new public/private partnerships. Opening of public sector information for wide use also directly is an efficient measure to promote the principles of the European Information Society, which I referred to in the beginning of my address.
Concluding remarks
The DLM-FORUM has defined 10 follow-up points to monitor and to have a long term impact on the development in the area of machine readable data and electronic records. The process seems to have sound objectives and it seems to progress well. Success in this work is necessary in order to create a stronger marketplace for practical solutions. Best results of the effort should likewise earn the best visibility. Appropriate education and training should be provided. All key actors in the field should reserve means to support continuation of this work. I want to thank all the organisations and individuals that have made DLM-FORUM ‘99 a success and wish you all a safe journey back home.
(Abdruck mit freundlicher Genehmigung des DLM-Forums, EU, Brüssel)
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