eEurope initiatives -contribution to Hungarian Information Society

1. eEurope initiatives -contribution to Hungarian Information Society Dr. István Erényi Ministry of Information Technology and Communication, Hungary erenyii@ikb.meh.hu

2. Motto: With joined efforts of many of us we mayprogress much further than anybody alone.(Descartes) Have you plans for one year: do farming; plans for a decade: plant trees; plans for a century: educate people, invest in knowledge. Ancient Chinese proverb I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

3. On EMCIS and Lisbon agenda • This conference and initiatives of the EU15 and CCs manifest joint awareness • CCs face both challenges: IS-KE and EU enlargement essential for their economic and social reforms and progress • Enlargement the largest single market in the Globe • For its success - modernisation and social cohesion are crucial I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

4. On Information Age • Communication-eTransactions bring closer businesses, people and governments • Open wide gates to effective and cheap usage of common data, and knowledge • thus contribute to the effectiveness of the single market and European cohesion • CCs fully share the ambitious goals set in Lisbon in March 2000. I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

5. eEurope and eEurope+ • CCs have the same joint commitment to KE in order to modernise their economies • The two eEurope initiatives help to narrow/close digital divide and strengthen social cohesion throughout Europe • Beyond beneficial effects of exchanging best practices, an other important pillar is the set of common indicators I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

6. Present situation in Hungary • Telcom sector privatised and then liberalised • Legal framework basically harmonised • Basically both legal-institutional framework and market competition conditions exist YET • that is not enough for further fast progress I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

7. On risk factors, obstacles • In general: new, unknown technology, yet high expectations • Capital market: fast market, lot of money to invest risky investments, leading to frequent failures • Competitive economy: high pressure for quick results many wrong decisions • Consumers’ habits: big differences in national habits, so European consumers’ habits much differ from the Americans • IT technology: e-World is not secure, safe and user friendly enough lack of confidence • World progress: though lot of promises and expectation, yet the divide is widening • General human nature: communicative, gambling firstly requests for communication services, games -- later e-Commerce I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

8. IS and KE • More than simple HW manufacturing, design, SW development, service provision • Not anymore the matter of HW and SW manufacturers and service providers • Not anymore the matter of IT and network specialists, or academics-researchers I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

9. IS and KE • It is common business for all of us • That is the beauty and also difficulty and the challenge we all are facing • Hence joint efforts, common global policy are needed at national, international arena • Hence following EU-15 - eErope2002, Candidate countries are co-operating toward modernising their economy and society I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

10. State responsibility for IS and KE in Hungary Realising the cross economic and cross-society effects of ICT • Ministry of ICT has recently been set up - in short: Ministry with full attention to IS • Widening co-operation efforts: like eEurope+ and hopefully eEurope2005, UN, WB,V4 for KE, etc. I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

11. First results of co-operation are already apparent in Hungary • First time more-or-less objective measurements have been achieved - showing weaknesses (household penetration! broadband) • More attention, awareness is paid to crucial issues • Lots of public access points have been established • eContent development efforts raising • Fast growing eCommerce, eBanking • More attention to secure networks • Looking forward to “best practice” projects I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

12. Future of co-operation • Deepening co-operation • First year result will show where more joint efforts are needed • First best practices are to be identified • Exchange of best practices • If eligible - joining eEurope2005 I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

13. Messages: On IS: Joint efforts are a must, pure participation is not enough, commitment ofall of us is needed. On KE: “Investment into knowledge returns the greatest benefits” (Benjamin Franklin) I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society

14. Thank you for your kind attention I.Erenyi: European Ministerial Conference on Information Society