Migrants, ethnic minorities and ICT in Europe : national scenario : an overview of six countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, The Czech Republic, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Launched in 2005 following the revised Lisbon Agenda, the policy framework 'i2010: A European Information Society for Growth and Employment' has clearly established digital inclusion as a strategic policy goal in the EU. Everybody living in Europe, especially disadvantaged people, should have the opportunity, if they so wish, to use information and communication technologies (ICT) and/or to benefit indirectly from ICT usage by service providers, intermediaries and other agents addressing their needs. Building on this, the 2006 Riga Declaration on eInclusion1 defined eInclusion as meaning “both inclusive ICT and the use of ICT to achieve wider inclusion objectives” and identified, as one of its six priorities, the promotion of cultural diversity in Europe by “improving the possibilities for economic and social participation and integration, creativity and entrepreneurship of immigrants and minorities by stimulating their participation in the information society”. In the light of these goals, DG Information Society and Media, Unit H3 ICT for Inclusion included in its ICT PSP Work Programme 2007 (Call ICT PSP/2007/1) included the funding of a Thematic Network to establish dialogue, build an exchange platform for achieving consensus and sketch out political and industrial agendas in support of Best use of ICT for social integration and cultural diversity. One of the objectives of the Thematic Network was to detect barriers and opportunities at national level for the replication or deployment of ICT Solutions and approaches for social integration and cultural diversity. In order to define next steps to be taken for deployment and replication at national/regional level, five national seminars had to be organised to promote the encounter of national and regional stakeholders. A consortium of a broad array of organisations that had previously worked together on this theme responded successfully to the call with the proposal Bridge-IT. These national reports, the third deliverable to be produced by the Bridge-IT Thematic Network, presents the national situations in five European Countries (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and the Czech Republic) as well as the debates and discussions happening in two different workshops in The Netherlands. During the seminars, stakeholders from a broad array of organisations debated the guidelines and good practices identified by the Bridge-IT network, and their replicability in each specific country.