| The year 2004 was an exceptional one for the | | | | the Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries. |
| European Union (EU) with the historic enlargement to | | | | Over the last two decades, information technologies |
| include ten new member states and the signature in | | | | and the Internet have been transforming the way |
| Rome of the Treaty establishing for the first time an | | | | companies do business, the way students learn, the |
| EU Constitution. That momentum continued into the | | | | way scientists carry out research and the way in |
| first half of 2005, marked by the beginning of the | | | | which governments provide services to their citizens. In |
| ratification process for the European Constitution. | | | | fact, ICTs have managed over the last decade to |
| The results of the various ratification processes of the | | | | become the main message vehicles of the modern |
| proposed EU Constitution, either through parliament or | | | | societies' communication systems. Corporations and |
| via a referendum, have varied from one country to | | | | governments, upon realizing their immense capabilities, |
| another. The European Union has to go through a | | | | are using contemporary ICTs to disseminate |
| European context that has proven to be both eventful | | | | messages, address issues, and ultimately influence |
| and tense over the last few months. In line with the | | | | public opinion. |
| post French and Dutch referenda studies, European | | | | Living today in the Information Age and as Internet |
| citizens appear today to be more critical in their | | | | users worldwide are increasing in numbers, |
| analysis of the European Union, without however | | | | organizations like the EU wish to influence the citizens' |
| calling into question either their membership, or the | | | | public opinion using the new digital medium's unique |
| European construction itself. Nevertheless, certain | | | | communications capabilities. But any kind of state will |
| indicators from the recent Eurobarometer survey (fall | | | | not achieve a strong, competitive economy simply by |
| 2005) reveal significant changes in views and highlight | | | | incorporating digital technologies into manufacturing or |
| just how necessary it is to bring European citizens and | | | | services. It also needs highly skilled workers to operate |
| European institutions closer together. Thus, the focus is | | | | the new systems, and digitally literate consumers to |
| now on how the European Union will reach | | | | buy the new goods and services. That means training |
| successfully its citizens and under which conditions this | | | | and education for people of all ages. Thus, |
| attempt will be more effective. | | | | competitiveness depends on how much the state |
| Under this notion, it is interesting to consider the | | | | invests in its people. The EU member states will soon |
| unquestionable fact that the Internet is changing the | | | | have to prove their proactive thinking and their policies |
| world we live in. It is a change no less significant than | | | | effectiveness on the matter. |