European Telework Development (ETD)

ETD and Public Policy processes

The ETO website - http://www.eto.org.uk - provides a "first and last stop shop" for information about telework, teletrade and telecooperation:

ETD also supports policy forums:

Online discussion points where interested parties can exchange information and views about particular aspects of the Information Society. Policy forums can be either private or public. If you would like to know about current and future forums and have the opportunity to join please complete the ETD Registration of Interest form, so we will know which topics interest you most.

ETD provides a sounding board for public policy issues:

ETD maintains an active network of connections with a very wide variety of companies, institutions and individuals and can rapidly assemble and provide feed back on proposals for Information Society policies, initiatives and programmes. If you have launched or plan to launch an initiative or a policy proposal or anything similar, let us know whether you are looking for comments on a private or a public basis - write to eto-info@eto.org.uk.

ETD can provide online support to public policy formation, for example by provision of WWW pages and response mechanisms at the ETO website.

If you have an initiative and feel you could benefit from independent advice on how best to use the online media, please contact us at eto-info@eto.org.uk.

Examples of ETD Support Activities

• A contribution to the European Conference on Rural Development: "Rural Europe - Future Perspectives" Cork, Ireland 7-9 November 1996. ETD's contribution addresses: Rural Europe: Integration in and For the Locality and emphasises the roles of electronic networking and local leadership in retaining local identities and cultures while preparing for success in the Information Society.
  
  
• The formation of a European interest group on the cross-impacts of transport and telecommunications and the potential contribution of "Transport by Telecommunications" to sustainable development. For further information contact Eric Britton at 100336.2154@compuserve.com.
  
  
• Development of a draft European Guideline on Interoperability Requirements for Telework
  
  
• Development of a Provisional European Guideline Telework: Access to Work Opportunities for Self Employed, Micro-Enterprises and Virtual Enterprises
  
  
• A workshop on the impact of the Information Society on Work and Jobs, following the European Commission's colloquium on the Green Paper, "People First". This has led to both private and public discussion forums being established.
  
  
• Support to the development and launch of the UK Citizens Online Democracy initiative (UK COD), and collaboration with the European Parliament and the Scarman Trust to support its launch debate on the subject of Economic and Monetary Union. A report is now available on the results of this exercise, and a message from the Head of the UK Office of the European Parliament. Evidence gathered during this initiative have led to conclusions regarding The need for leaders in politics, business and the community to be "effectively connected".
  
  
• Support at the ETO website to the European Commission's initiative "Memorandum of Understanding on Open Access to Global Electronic Commerce for SMEs"