Preparing France’s entry

Introduction 3

Key issues involved in the information society 4

Six priority areas 6

New information and communications technology tools in the education sector 8

An ambitious cultural policy for new networks 14

Information technology as a tool for modernising public services 24

Information technology, an essential tool for companies 36

Meeting the challenges of industrial and technological innovation 44

Encouraging the emergence of effective regulation and a protective framework for new information networks 57

Implementation method 64

Well-coordinated action at national and international level 66

Engaging public debate on France’s entry into the information society 72

Appendix 1 75

Appendix 2 80

The emergence of the information society is reflected by a variety of profound transformations. With the use of information technology and networks becoming widespread, the computerisation of our society, which has been heralded since the end of the 1970s, is now a reality concretely reflecting the concept of the "information society".

The digitisation of information, the computerisation of production and information exchange methods, the growth in percentage of the country’s wealth represented by non-material goods and the development of new networks, such as the Internet, have serious consequences for our economy, and also for the lives of our people.

These transformations, which are leading to fundamental changes in our society, mean that the conditions for France’s entry into the information society are of decisive importance for our future.

The economic issues are obvious. The multimedia industry - which includes the computer, telecommunications and audiovisual sectors - is now one of the driving forces for economic growth and offers a promising pool of jobs.

Information is becoming a strategic commodity, one of the conditions of our competitiveness.

Products resulting from intellectual activity already represent a key percentage of our collective wealth, and will do so even more in the future. To a great extent, international competition in the next century will be a battle of intelligence.

The profound changes brought about by information technology go far beyond straightforward economic issues: the increase in new information and communications networks offers promising social, cultural and, ultimately, political prospects.

The development of new worldwide information networks like the Internet represents a considerable challenge for States, used to intervening in a well-controlled national context. The rise in the circulation of personal data and the increasingly important place of information and communications technology in the professional environment are giving rise to numerous concerns.

However, the promise inherent in the information society justifies an optimistic vision of our future. Entry into the information society may lead to a more integrated, more open and more democratic society.

This is why the government is offering the people of France a project and a political vision of information and communications technology founded on the ambition to create an integrated information society.

The government action programme for the information society marks the State’s commitment, stressing, sector by sector, the issues and priorities, accompanied by concrete proposals.

This document, which mixes medium-term strategic orientations and operational measures, aims to outline the directions to be taken by government action in this area in years to come.

The government action programme will act as a reference for government departments, but also, and in particular, for the other players in society who are calling for determined and sustained State intervention.

The government’s approach aims to make a clear distinction between those areas in which direct State intervention is required, such as modernising public services or developing information and communication technology in education, and areas in which the State can simply set an example, offer encouragement and increase awareness.

The government is fully convinced that solutions in this field cannot be imposed on society by the public authorities. Thus this programme, although it represents a general framework for public action, should not be set in stone.

On the contrary, it must be improved on the basis of the public debate which should result from the main options outlined for France’s entry into the information society.

To be effective and properly understood by the people of the country, State action must concentrate on a limited number of priorities. Government initiatives to prepare France’s entry into the information society will thus respond to the main concerns:

The intelligence battle begins at school, where the development of information and communication technology responds to a twofold objective:

To meet these objectives, the State will devote extensive resources to this key area for the future over a three-year period. This exceptional contribution will affect all education sectors, at all levels and will cover teacher training, the equipping and bringing on-line of teaching establishments, along with the production and distribution of appropriate material.

Thus, for the school sector, although expenditure on equipment is the responsibility of local authorities, the State may, using suitable methods, encourage these to guarantee equal access of pupils to information and communications technology. To this end, in 1998 the Ministry of Education, Research and Technology will offer specific support to establishments in priority education zones ("ZEPs") and rural schools.

Specific aid will also be given to further education establishments, on the basis of a plan to be drawn up by them in spring 1998, to allow all students access to information tools and networks.

Particular efforts will be devoted to increasing awareness among teachers and providing them with training, an area of absolute priority.

The potential uses of information and communications technology must be explored, with respect to both pupils and teachers, but also with respect to training methods themselves.

The activities of pupils and students using multimedia tools must be further developed

Computers can lead to pupils having a more active approach; the diversity and richness of the media available (text, images, audiovisual material) stimulate their creativity.

Using databases available on CD-Rom or on the Internet, pupils have easy and interactive access to information, and can thus produce individual work which is richer and built around projects.

Using internal school networks, pupils can exchange information and work in groups, breaking the usual inherent restrictions of their class and level of education. E-mail enables exchanges to take place both at local and international level.

Multimedia products can help pupils who have difficulties with more traditional methods of accessing information, by offering them new learning tools (vision in space, presence of sound, other relationship to written text, etc.).

Information networks can encourage exchange of ideas between teachers

Division into subject groups on the Internet, working partys, sharing of experience: these are just some of the ways in which teachers could benefit from the increased circulation of information, in terms of ongoing training and personal development.

In addition to these working methods, information and communications technology tools could promote the development of distance learning and made-to-measure teaching (self-teaching, tutored learning, etc.) which make both pupils and students the focus of teaching.

To encourage these new practices, several actions are planned:

An emergency plan for teacher training establishments has been set up

With respect to initial training, a two-year emergency plan, aimed at developing the use of this technology in teacher training establishments ("IUFMs") is currently being set up and should come into effect at the start of the 1998 academic year. One hundred posts for teaching and technical staff and 1000 jobs for young people will be allocated to these establishments to aid integration of this technology into teaching practice.

Ongoing training will be developed

Ongoing staff training, for those already in the profession, will be developed, making the best possible use of the potential offered by information and communications technology.

Increasing awareness among management staff is a priority

Management staff (establishment principals, inspecting bodies, etc.) are prime players for increasing awareness of the issues and piloting training tools integrating information and communications technology. Initiatives will be set up at inter-academic level and will be open, if required, to management staff from other ministries. Suitable information guides and self-teaching tools will be developed for these managers.

By the year 2000, the use of this technology in schools and universities will be widespread

By the year 2000, the majority of schools and universities will be equipped with networked computers, linked to the Internet and will have e-mail addresses.

Equipment-rental solutions should be given priority

Teaching establishments, and the local authorities to which they are attached, will be free to decide what equipment they require to use information and communications technology tools. However, given the rate at which the computer sector is developing, equipment-rental solutions should be given priority.

Students must be encouraged to have their own personal equipment

Initiatives will be continued to make it easier for students to have their own personal equipment, so that computers and the Internet become usual and accepted working tools.

Agreements with operators making it possible to offer favourable conditions for connecting establishments to the Internet

With respect to connection, we are currently seeing the development of alternative solutions, such as cable and soon satellite, increasing the telecommunications tools options available. So that it is possible to offer all those establishments who so wish, particularly favourable conditions for access to the Internet, agreements will be sought with the operators present on the market, in particular France Telecom, the public operator offering a universal service.

Discussions will be organised in all teaching establishments on the subject of their options with respect to information and communications technology equipment

Before summer 1998, every school, of whatever type, will organise a debate at staff meetings or board of governors meetings, to discuss the options for going on-line and equipping themselves with information and communications technology tools.

The local authority to which the establishment is attached and a representative of the director of education will be included in these discussions, which must be conducted as part of the academic development plan.

Similarly, every further education department will organise debate on this matter with all its partners.

Directors of education will draw up an information and communications technology development plan

To ensure coordination between teaching establishments, local authorities and the State, directors of education will draw up a 3-year information and communications technology development plan. In their plans, they will indicate their equipment and network-connection choices, planned teaching programmes and tools for assisting and training users, for their education authority.

In particular, the information and communications technology development plan will be based on the results of consultation within each teaching establishment.

A "resources person" will be appointed by each establishment or school group

A teacher or librarian qualified to act as a "resources person" in charge of information and communications technology must be appointed by each establishment or school group.

Plans for ensuring that students have access to information and communications technology will be developed

University chancellors will draw up a plan for ensuring student access to information and communications technology in the first half of 1998.

The State will set up a system to encourage favourable financing solutions for local authorities’ expenditure

Provision will be made to help finance projects within establishments using information and communications technology tools. In particular, its implementation ought to help balance equipment levels nationally.

Agreements will encourage companies to offer attractive rates for equipping teaching establishments

Agreements will be signed at national level with manufacturers, software suppliers and training organisations to encourage them to offer attractive rates for equipping teaching establishments. These agreements could also be at local level.

The actions of the Ministry of national Education, research and technology in this area essentially target two main themes:

A single office will be set up for educational multimedia products

The setting-up of a single office within the Technology department of the Ministry of national Education, research and technology will make it possible to concentrate expenditure on educational multimedia product projects. A policy for labelling, call for tenders and purchasing will cover all multimedia sectors: analogue and digital audiovisual products, CD-Roms, Internet, etc.

Use of La Cinquieme’s Programmes and Services Bank in the world of education will be promoted

The Ministry of national Education, research and technology intends to promote the distribution of high-speed digital audiovisual funds. In this context, its support of the BPS ("Banque de Programmes et de Services" - Programmes and Services Bank) created by the television channel, La Cinquieme, will result, in 1998, in assistance to create and distribute adapted teaching material and the monitoring of 200 experimental school sites.

To encourage educational production and innovation, several actions will be undertaken to support teaching projects and encourage the industrialisation of know-how.

A call for projects will be launched with DATAR and local authorities

A call for projects will be launched by the Ministry of national Education, research and technology, in collaboration with DATAR («Delegation a l’amenagement du territoire et a l’action regionale» - Delegation for national and regional planning and regional action) and local authorities, to support teaching projects. Financed by the national and regional planning fund, the budget allocated to this operation (10 million French Francs in 1998) will give priority to medium-sized projects to encourage numbers and diversity.

ANVAR will launch a call for teaching project proposals

ANVAR ("Agence nationale pour la valorisation de la recherche" - National agency for the economic development of research) will launch a call for proposals to aid financing of teaching projects which would make it possible to industrialise the know-how acquired by certain teachers. This initiative would make it possible to develop new enterprises in the educational multimedia sector.

Bringing together multimedia industry players and teachers

The Educasource project will offer a guide for access to educational multimedia resources

The Educasource project which is currently under development will offer all teachers and trainers an orientation point, in the form of a web site, allowing them to identify, amongst all the multimedia resources available on-line and off-line, that with the greatest teaching value.

Direct distribution of information by teachers must be encouraged

Teachers, and more especially further-education lecturers, will be encouraged to publish part of their teaching courses in a form which they deem to be suitable, on the various digital media. Aid will be provided for the development of the French on-line supply of unpublished documents, representing "grey-matter literature": theses, research reports, articles, etc.

Integration of information and communications technology into documentation services will be developed

All resource centres, and more especially university libraries, will intensify their efforts to integrate information and communications technology into their services, to create new material and to better manage their resources. Documentation services are, in fact, an ideal place to provide pupil, student and teacher access to information and communications technology. Moreover, bringing these services on-line makes it possible to considerably extend the amount of information available on the Internet and to facilitate distance learning.

The collective catalogue of all further education libraries will be completed and made available on the Internet

The production of a complete collective catalogue of all further education libraries, which can be accessed on the Internet, must be speeded up, so that it is completed in the next five years. The Ministry of national Education, research and technology will lend its support to the digitising of non-copyrighted library material, an initiative which will be based on cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Communication.

France has circulated a memorandum on school access to the Internet to the other European Union members

In autumn 1997, France circulated a memorandum on school access to the Internet to the Commission and its European partners. In France, this extensive access will be implemented in compliance with community law, which it would nevertheless seem both necessary and legitimate to adapt. It is hoped that it will be possible to redefine the idea of universal service, to ensure an equal playing field for all schools and to create the opportunity of mobilising universal service resources to this end.

On the basis of this memorandum, on the 1st of December 1997, the Telecommunications Council held a debate on the role of the Internet in schools, stressing the need for a convergence of objectives of member States.

All of our partners stressed the importance, to the competitiveness of the European economy, of equipping our young people with the tools to access the skills and knowledge enabling them to benefit from the potential of the information society, without excluding anyone.

The digital revolution has made computers and information networks into tools for creation and communication - media in the true sense of the word. This boom in the information industry has been accompanied by rapid development in materials and programmes, in particular those with a cultural flavour.

The degree of material and services currently available on the Internet in the French language is inadequate. Given our rich heritage, it is particularly paradoxical that we should be falling behind in the field of the arts, in which the Internet plays an essential distribution role.

Information and communications technology is giving rise to new skills and new artistic approaches, leading to profound changes in the arts and media industries.

Entry into the information society and appropriation of information and communications technology thus represent a major component in an ambitious cultural policy.

The Government intends to increase its support for the creation of multimedia material and services, digitising France’s cultural heritage and using arts training and access sites to facilitate mastery of information technology tools.

The new information networks represent an ideal tool to help reinforce the international presence of France and the French language, and their use must be encouraged to promote France’s cultural influence.

The existing systems for providing aid for creation, which rely mainly on the actions of the CNC ("Centre national de la cinematographie" - National Cinematography Centre) and the IFCIC ("Institut de financement du cinema et des industries culturelles" - Institute for the financing of cinema and arts industries) will be strengthened and adapted.

Aid awarded by the CNC will be increased by 50% in 1998

In 1998, more than 25 million French Francs will be allocated to assist multimedia programmes, given in the form of reimbursable advances. This initiative will make it possible to meet the development needs of the multimedia publishing sector and to respond to a new, rapidly growing need for on-line services.

A new system has been set up to encourage the press to develop its multimedia activities

Developments in information and communications technology and the rise of the Internet represent major challenges for the future of the written press.

A multimedia aid fund for the press, worth 15 million French Francs, has been created to promote trials of new products and services, the economic development of editorial resources and the use of networks by journalists.

In addition, the Fund to aid modernising of the daily and allied press, to be set up in 1998, should benefit multimedia projects.

The arts industry guarantee fund managed by the IFCIC will be more widely accessible to multimedia production

The arts industry guarantee fund managed by the IFCIC is aimed at multimedia publishing and production companies. In 1998, the resources available will make it possible to guarantee outstanding bank credit for a total sum of 60 million French Francs.

Public aid for the use of information technology in the publishing sector will be developed

The digital audiovisual industry represents the perfect convergence of computer, telecommunications and audiovisual technology.

Several major projects will be started in 1998 in the public audiovisual sector.

The Programmes and Services Bank will be operational in 1998

La Cinquieme’s BPS ("Banque de Programmes et de Services - Programmes and services bank) will fulfil the audiovisual documentary needs of initial and ongoing training, offering programmes on request, broadcast by satellite following selection via the Internet.

Following the trial conducted in 1997, almost 400 sites will be equipped in 1998 and will have access to more than 3000 audiovisual programmes.

The Ministry of Culture and communication has made BPS a priority, allocating this project a budget of 22.5 million French Francs

The INA will develop its multimedia applications and archive digitisation

Developments in information and communications technology are leading to fundamental changes in the archiving tasks of the INA ("Institut national de l’audiovisuel" - National audiovisual institute). This institute is continuing to digitise its archives and will set up a multimedia production studio. These modernisations will be allocated a total budget of 17 million French Francs.

The public audiovisual sector will develop its presence on the Internet

The Internet is an ideal tool for developing the public audiovisual sector and, in particular, its international distribution.

The web site of RFI (Radio France International), voted the best media site in 1997, makes it possible to extend RFI’s audience and to supplement the information that it offers. In 1998, it will be improved with the addition of a database on French songs.

The reorganisation of TV5’s web site, and in particular its linking-up to the educational programmes site, will be another example in 1998 of the potential represented by the Internet for the audiovisual sector.

Cultural products are currently the subject of varying VAT levels: 2.1% for the daily press, 5.5% for others, such as books, and, finally, 20.6% for multimedia products.

With respect to VAT, France cannot unilaterally decide to make changes to the categories of products to which reduced rates are applicable.

Any application of a reduced VAT rate to all cultural products or services would thus require revision of the EU list of products and services eligible for this reduced rate, which, in turn, would require a European Commission initiative and the unanimous agreement of all member States. To date, the European Commission has opposed any modifications to this list.

However, on the 24th of November 1997, at the Council of ministers meeting on culture and the audiovisual industry, the European Commission announced that a study on the effects of reducing VAT on CD-Roms and interactive compact disks (ICDs) is to be launched.

The organisation of protection of copyright is not just a traditionally important issue in cultural policy and intellectual property laws. It is also a key condition to encourage multimedia creation and expression and the development of corresponding industries and services.

Government action to protect copyright is concentrating on the international context

To a great extent, government action with respect to protection of copyright is being conducted within a framework of international negotiations.

In October 1997, France signed two treaties, on copyright and related rights, which were prepared in 1996 as part of the World Organisation of Industrial Property (WOIP). These treaties extend the scope of protection of work, by including digital forms.

France will play an active part in European negotiations to be held in 1998

In 1998, France will play an active part in negotiations on the draft directive relating to "copyright and related rights in the information society" adopted by the European Commission on the 10th of December 1997. Europe-wide ratification of the 1996 WOIP treaties will be dependent on the results of these negotiations.

Transposition of the European directive relative to databases is being undertaken

In 1998, a law will be brought before parliament to enable transposition of the European directive relative to databases, which aims, in particular, to define the guarantees offered to database producers.

The setting-up of an identification system for digital work must be encouraged

Application of the existing and future legal framework relative to protection of copyright presupposes the setting-up of standardised identification systems for digital work and the authors of such work, in which the French organisations concerned will act as a driving force.

Procedures for managing rights must be simplified

The development of multimedia works, in compliance with copyright regulations, requires significant simplification of authorisation procedures for the use of published works.

In 1998, the public authorities will act to support the organisation of professionals and to require the public bodies involved to instigate more efficient management of rights.

Digitisation of cultural collections will be extended

Operations to develop the artistic heritage of museums in the form of digital databases and multimedia programmes will be continued and reinforced according to three main themes:

The total budget allocated to digitisation of artistic heritage in 1998 will be 12 million French Francs.

The digital collections of France’s National Library will be enlarged

The Internet will represent a spectacular tool for making access to our libraries’ and museums’ cultural heritage more democratic. Its worldwide nature will also make it a relatively inexpensive tool for promoting our cultural resources.

A plan for distributing public cultural data on the Internet will be developed

A Ministry of Culture and Communication working party will develop a plan for distributing public cultural data on the Internet before the end of the first half of 1998 for each department of the Ministry.

The proposals submitted by this working party will be the subject of extensive discussions.

France will relaunch the "Universal Library" project

In addition to distribution of a reference literary collection free-of-charge on the Internet, largely composed of National Library non-copyrighted digital collections, France, in partnership with UNESCO, will relaunch the "Universal Library" project started in the context of G7 in 1995.

A study commission will study the effects of digitisation on literary publishing and creation

A study commission on "digital books", made up of representatives from the entire book chain and public authorities, will be set up in 1998.

This commission will identify the effects of development of the Internet and digitisation on book and reading policy, will specify the positions of the various partners and will propose ground rules to encourage better cooperation.

Appropriation of information and communications technology tools by the country’s citizens is in itself a cultural objective. To prevent the development of a two-speed information society, the State must encourage public awareness of these new tools for expression and access to the arts and knowledge.

"Espaces Culture Multimedia" or Multimedia Arts Centres will be created throughout the country, to educate the public in information technology, with a cultural flavour.

100 Multimedia Arts Centres will be created in 1998

These local centres will be situated within existing bodies, such as public libraries or media libraries, and also in a wide variety of cultural or sociocultural structures. A call for projects will be launched jointly by the Ministry of Culture and Communications and the Delegation on national and regional development and regional action.

In this way, it will be possible to create or support around a hundred centres in 1998, with a total budget of 10 million French Francs.

Jobs for young people could be created in Multimedia Arts Centres

These Multimedia Arts Centres could rely largely on jobs for young people to lead and train the public in the use of multimedia tools, and also to provide technical support to computer management.

Public libraries represent the most extensive network of cultural institutions in France. More than 6.5 million people are public library members. Internet distribution may make it possible to achieve a cultural re-balancing of the country, along with wider and more equal access to knowledge and the arts.

Libraries in which multimedia documents, both on-line and off-line, gradually supplement collections of printed and audiovisual documents, may thus become one of the major sites for cultural appropriation of information and communications technology by the public. They will rely on specific training programmes which will have to be developed, like those given by France’s national school for further education in information sciences, which prepares future professionals in the use of information technology.

Multimedia equipment levels in public libraries will be improved

Financing, in the form of specific aid from the general decentralisation grant fund, must be given to enable libraries to acquire the equipment required to turn them into ideal sites for Internet access. The same equipment could be used for consultation of electronic-publishing products (CD-Roms).

What is required is to promote both library access to the Internet and Internet access to libraries. With respect to distance access to libraries, numerous added-value services could be envisaged, such as the option of consulting the catalogue of works on-line or accessing communication services.

France’s collective catalogue will be brought on-line in 1998

The expertise required in the field of information and communications technology is inter-disciplinary. Thus, the new professions associated with the development of material, interfaces and information access tools combine artistic training with knowledge obtained from the computing, telecommunications and audiovisual fields.

High-level training in multimedia tools will be extended

High-level training is required, not only to prepare specialists, but also designers, in all forms of new medias and to prepare trainers to organise and pass on this new expertise.

In 1998, further training in multimedia tools is to be proposed in all sectors of artistic and cultural education: plastic arts, television, cinema, digital images, cartoon strips, book and heritage industries.

Training already available and the organisations giving it will be strengthened and developed. Training in multimedia tools will be gradually extended to all art schools. A system for consultation and programme-setting will be set up to speed up development of teaching skills and to guarantee rational use of equipment.

In 1998, the Ministry of Culture and communication will prepare a specific training programme for "development managers in cultural information technology".

In 1998, discussions will be conducted into the setting-up of a research network based on digital audiovisual and multimedia tools

In 1998, the Ministry of Culture and Communication will launch preliminary discussions into the setting-up of a research and design network based on media, in which digital audiovisual tools could be the chief component.

In the immediate term, a technological monitoring network will be set up to provide information on research and technology in the cultural multimedia field, both in France and abroad.

The support given to research and development in multimedia cultural technology will be reinforced

Mastering the multimedia professions is dependent on the digitisation of material and also on mastery of tools to access and process information. The initiatives of the Ministry of Culture and Communication have made it possible to support projects such as automatic indexing of films, translating aid programmes, tools for multimedia scriptwriting or hypertextual reading software packages for scientists. These important initiatives will be further developed in 1998.

A study will be made of the contribution of information technology to education in the use of graphics

Current cultural practices in our society are characterised by a marked division between the written word, on the one hand, predominant in school education and graphics, on the other, which are widely dominant in youth culture. This divide can lead to communication difficulties between social groups or generations in the passing-on of knowledge.

Education in the use of graphics is one of the ways of mending this split, by helping to create a modern graphics culture relying on the aid of information and communications technology tools.

A united system will be set up under the management of Mr. Jean-Claude RISSET to promote research into art, science and technology

Brand new creative possibilities are being opened up using the new media, involving multiple skills at the point where several disciplines converge. On the basis of this, the Ministry of national Education, research and technology and the Ministry of Culture and Communication hope to promote research into the synergy between the worlds of art, science and technology.

A steering committee has been created to implement a united system to study this subject from 1998 onwards, which will be managed by Mr. Jean-Claude RISSET, research director at the CNRS ("Centre national de la recherche scientifique" - France’s national scientific research centre), composer and computerised music research scientist.

Information and communications technology and the rise of the Internet are sometimes presented as a possible threat to cultural identity, leading to homogenisation of behaviour and language. However, even if this risk exists, it is certainly not inevitable. Rapidly changing techniques, the decentralisation of the players involved and the development of information networks can, on the contrary, offer new opportunities for the distribution of cultural products and services and for the expression of the wealth and diversity of different cultures.

The Government intends to adopt a totally positive strategy, based on the conviction that entry into the information society offers new opportunities to reinforce the international presence of France and the French language.

In addition, France will also make sure that the support systems for cultural and linguistic diversity are retained, such as creative assistance and European work quotas in the audiovisual industry.

Mr. Patrick BLOCHE will be responsible for a parliamentary brief on the presence of France and the French language on information networks

The international dimension of French Internet sites must be reinforced

The Internet now represents and ideal tool to help distribute French knowledge and culture. In order to encourage certain categories of French web site (universities, local authorities, etc.) to grasp the essentially worldwide dimension of the Internet, a labelling mechanism and, if applicable, financial incentives are planned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. What is needed, in fact, is to integrate the international dimension of the Internet as far upstream as possible, when the French web sites are first created.

The State must lead the way in terms of multilingualism

Promoting the role of the French language throughout the world presupposes that the public authorities set an example with respect to translations. When translations exist on their web sites, government departments must offer at least two foreign languages,

The required presence of the French language in international organisations must be a reality for the information made available on-line by these organisations

The presence of the French language on-line must be maintained by the international organisations of which we are members and in which French is one of the official languages. France will make determined efforts to obtain French-language distribution of the information made available on-line by these organisations.

Appropriation of information and communications technology tools by the greatest possible numbers of people is dependent on determined promotion of the use of French-language terms

Quebec, which has led the way in terms of determined commitment to the use of the Internet, serves as an example to our country: French-language terms adapt easily to the development of terms specific to the Internet. Especially since information and communications technology tools are becoming an integral part of society, it is important that the terminology on which they are based is accessible, and thus comprehensible, to the public as a whole.

Thus, although they were the subject of scepticism to begin with, terms such as " navigateur " (in place of browser) or " logiciel " (in place of software) are now quite natural. Others, such as, for example, " pare-feu " (firewall), " partagiciel " (shareware), " graticiel " (freeware) or " page d'accueil " (home page), can be promoted.

The DGLF ("Delegation generale a la langue Francaise" - General French language delegation) already offers a glossary of equivalent terms, the use of which must be encouraged. To this end, the general terminology Commission will also draw up regular recommendations for the various government departments.

With the aim of ensuring clarity, the use of certain terms will be made mandatory by the government. Thus, for example, e-mail address references must begin with the term "Mel." (for "messagerie electronique" - electronic mail).

Linguistic resources enabling automatic information processing and electronic production will be developed

Making available automatic linguistic resources is an essential condition to the development of a large number of software packages, applications and interfaces requiring language analysis. The rise of the Internet has emphasised the importance of research and indexing tools, resources of which there are still too few in French-language form.

The DGLF will lend its support to the production and distribution of multilingual resources in which French is one of the languages, in the context of the "Multilingualism and the information society" programme set up by the European Commission. It will back up the actions of the European Association for linguistic resources.

The Ministry of Culture and Communication will implement a specific initiative to clarify user rights for research scientists in certain existing bodies, such as the "Institut national de la langue francaise" (National French Language Institute), the CNRS or the National library.

Simplifying searches for French resources: the " France.fr " site

In the face of the rapid and continuing growth of the Internet, users sometimes have difficulty quickly accessing reference information. The implementation of an Internet site with the address "France.fr", managed by the Government’s information service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, proposing an address with an obvious name, will provide a simple answer to this need. Through various headings such as "Voici la France" (France here), "Tourisme" (Tourism), "Droit" (Law) and "Culture" (Arts), this multilingual site will propose a variety of connections to other reference sites, in partnership with those involved.

The various organisations representing France abroad could also give this single Internet address.

Promoting Internet access to France tourism heritage in 1998

The information distribution role of diplomatic posts and specialised organisations will be reinforced

Diplomatic posts are a precious link to improve information for French players and spread the word of French achievements abroad, in cooperation with specialised organisations such as the "Agence pour la diffusion de l’information technologique" (ADIT - Agency for the distribution of technological information). Information and communications technology offers new tools which can make a major contribution to this type of activity.

A network will be set up at the initiative of the Ministry of foreign affairs, to link up diplomatic posts and the French players involved in areas such as, for example, university cooperation or exchanges between administrative departments. It should make it possible to accelerate the circulation of information and to improve coordination.

The ADIT site will also offer French companies free access to a database on international technology.

In the field of cooperation and development, information and communications technology tools can be used for the benefit of increasing documentary resources, improving technical expertise and creating material. This policy is largely based on a community initiative, given the name "Initiative Diderot", resulting from a convergence of views between players involved in international cooperation in various fields (research, government departments, United Nations Organisation, non-governmental organisations).

The various actions undertaken in 1998 will represent an overall financial commitment of around 25 million French Francs.

Developing shared resource bases for French-speaking countries

The collection and digitisation of scientific, technical and cultural records for southern French-speaking countries is of key importance. The actions undertaken within the framework of French language promotion aim to encourage the networking of documentary resources (such as the FORCIIR ongoing training and documentalist network programme, or the bibliographic database on development, IBISCUS), the development of virtual libraries or the creation of sites devoted to cultural creation in southern countries (such as the site "Afrique en Creation" - The Creation of Africa).

Promoting exchange and communication between French-speaking countries via the Internet

France is supporting several of our partners’ projects aimed at increasing the distribution of French material on the Internet, thus helping to extend the influence of the culture and knowledge of French-speaking countries.

The following can be cited:

The creation of funds for the development of information highways

As an extension of the resolution on the information society adopted at the Cotonou Summit, a fund for the development of information highways was created at the Heads of State Summit in Hanoi, covering all those sectors likely to benefit from the contribution of information and communications technology, with the exception of infrastructures.

The aim of this fund is to encourage concrete projects to be set up in French-speaking countries, to give them an incentive to commit themselves to the information society on the basis of a North/South partnership.

The new information networks offer particularly promising prospects with respect to State reform, whether in terms of improving relationships with the general public and companies or increasing the efficiency of its internal operation.

Information technology thus makes it possible to envisage new ways of making available information which is useful to the general public, in digital form and thus at a reduced cost. They also offer the opportunity to deal with the administrative authorities at a distance, i.e. by means of automatic data procedures, thus avoiding the restrictions imposed by opening times of public services or by geographical distance.

In addition, the use of information and communications technology and new networks within government departments increases efficiency and makes it easier to exchange information.

These changes call for in-depth study on how to modernise working methods and organisation. A voluntarist policy to increase awareness and train government employees is essential if optimum use is to be made of these tools, progress which must be made in cooperation with union organisations.

In this way, the State can be made more transparent and more efficient for its citizens. However, in an environment characterised by accelerated information circulation, the government must, more than ever before, ensure the protection of personal data and privacy.

By making widespread use of information and communications technology, the State, a major player in the economy of the country, must, by its own example, act as a driving force in speeding up France’s entry into the information society.

As the leading producer of information in the country, the State must use communication networks to extend its distribution of public data and to offer new interactive services.

The State must take advantage of the new conditions offered by the development of the Internet to act as a driving force in reinforcing France’s presence on the world net and making it easier for both the general public and companies to access public information.

The information produced by the government represents a major resource to inform our market players and to improve the competitiveness of our economy. An active policy to digitise public data and make it available on-line is thus an issue of prime importance.

In this way, the Government aims to meet the ever-increasing expectations of its citizens, for whom greater administrative transparency is a key democratic issue.

A digitisation plan for each ministry will be drawn up in 1998

By the end of the first half of 1998, in an effort to improve public access to administrative information and the various types of public data, each ministry will draw up a plan for digitising and placing its public information on-line, in cooperation with the "Commission de coordination de la documentation administrative" (CCDA - Commission for the coordination of administrative documentation). To do this, each ministry will prepare a preliminary inventory of the pools of information available and will define the type of information which it would be useful to distribute.

The distribution of unpublished information will be given priority

The ministry digitisation plans will, in cooperation with the French Documentation service, particularly concentrate on "grey-matter" literature, that is reports, studies and public documents which are not available to the public in paper form.

New Internet services will be developed

The advantages of the Internet, which are, largely, its interactivity, its multimedia character and its simplicity of use, must be exploited to enable the development of new general Internet services.

Initiatives have already been started in this area: the web site of the Ministry in charge of facilities, transport and housing, for example, offers information on traffic conditions in the Paris region. The National Employment Agency has been broadcasting all of its vacancies since the Autumn. The Ministry of foreign affairs makes available reference information on our country. The Ministry of the economy, finance and industry offer on-line question-and-answer services on the Internet for all the economic and financial issues in which taxpayers, consumers and companies are interested. The Ministry of Culture and Communication offers virtual exhibitions and access to large-scale arts databases on its web site.

These services must be rapidly developed, with the aim of providing a genuine public service. Thus, before spring 1998, the Ministry of Agriculture is to offer up-to-the-minute information on prices for agricultural products, then, at a later date, its warning service to provide urgent information to farmers.

Developing a clear doctrine with respect to the distribution of public data

The development of networks has led to a profound shift in the traditional distinction between access to public information and its distribution. The development of the Internet is reflected by a further fundamental change in the economic conditions of this distribution.

Beyond essential public data, which the Internet now makes it possible to distribute free-of-charge, there is a considerable variety of data, access to which is one of the essential conditions to the development of industry and the French information market.

An independent person will be appointed to propose to government departments the elements of a clear doctrine on the scope and charging conditions for public data.

Maintaining the confidentiality of personal data and the protection of privacy

When the 1995 community directive relative to personal data was transposed into French law, the Prime Minister assigned Mr. Guy BRAIBANT, Chairman of the higher codification commission, a brief to study and make proposals on any changes required to the legislative framework of 1978, which, in particular, led to the creation of the "Commission nationale de l’informatique et des libertes" (National commission on the freedom of access to computerised information).

Mr. BRAIBANT’s conclusions, soon to be released, will help give direction to public choices in this essential area. The government’s increased use of information and communications technology tools, an instrument to provide a better service for its people, must not actually lead to less protection of personal data and privacy.

Thanks to Minitel, France already has a considerable history of using on-line services, of which government services are a large part. This resource is an asset which the State must exploit, by leading the way in moving over from Minitel to the Internet.

Offering these services will act as a major incentive to encourage homes and companies to acquire personal computers fitted with communications tools.

The services currently available on Minitel will remain so long as it is widely used by the general public.

Moving of the States’ Minitel services onto the Internet must be completed within two years

All the public information and government services which are today available on Minitel must also be accessible on the Internet by the end of 1999.

Transferral to the Internet must be accompanied by improved service

Moving the State’s Minitel services onto the Internet must also be seen as an opportunity to study ways to improve the service offered to users, making use of multimedia tools and the ease of use of the Internet.

In 1998, each Ministry will draw up a schedule for moving its services onto the Internet

Before the 1st of June 1998, each ministry will draw up an exhaustive plan for moving its Minitel services, detailing existing services and how often these are consulted by the general public.

Alongside those data produced by the government which could be sold, essential public data must be available on the Internet free-of-charge. In particular, this concerns major legal texts, public administrative information, main public documents and essential cultural data.

Clear, reliable and complete administrative information is a key element in improving the service offered to the public. The aim of the data to be distributed free-of-charge on the Internet is not simply to provide greater information on the various facets of the government’s activities, but, more especially, to provide concrete information on legal rights, initiatives and formalities affecting the country’s citizens.

The opening of government department web sites must be seen as an opportunity for ambitious application of the principle of free access to essential public data, which will lead to new services from 1998 onwards.

In 1998, each ministry will identify the scope of its essential public data

When developing their public data digitisation plan, each ministry will provide a list of their essential data, indicated by field of activity.

LEGIFRANCE, the web site for free distribution of major French legal texts, will open in January 1998

A web site called " LEGIFRANCE " will be opened on the 1st of February 1998, on which will be available, free-of-charge, in addition to the "Journal Officiel de la Republique Francaise" (French Republic Official Journal), the main laws and legislative texts, as well as all the major decisions made by the administrative and judicial authorities.

ADMIFRANCE, the general web site for free administrative public information on the Internet, will open in spring 1998

A general web site for administrative public information will offer, in addition to an exhaustive directory of the public web sites already in place, a platform for questions and a database of information relating to dealings that the public have with government departments.

It will also provide direct access to all those forms included in the list of the "Centre d’enregistrement et de revision des formulaires administratifs" (CERFA - Centre for registration and revision of administrative forms), which will be digitised accordingly.

Finally, it will offer access to the French government catalogue which already exists on paper and on Minitel (Admitel service). The Government’s Secretary General will be responsible for coordinating the various services brought into effect as a part of this project.

At a later date, the remit of "Centres Interministeriels de renseignement administratif" (CIRA - Inter-ministerial Centres for administrative information) could be extended to offer an on-line query service, by electronic mail, and thus a tailor-made information service for users.

Information and communications technology tools do not just make it possible to improve distribution of information to public service users. They also represent opportunities for new types of interactivity, thanks to the development of electronic mail.

Every public administrative service will be given an e-mail address by the year 2000

All administrative services related to users must be gradually given e-mail addresses, to enable them to receive electronic mail from the public and to respond in the same way.

Government departments must be made aware of the importance of electronic mail

The impact of the development of e-mail on work in administrative departments must not be under-estimated. As for any organisation adopting this kind of technology, the efficient processing of electronic mail is dependent on the adaptation of existing procedures. In particular, these procedures must guarantee specific legal rights to protect citizens in their dealings with government departments, such as a demand for reasons or the existence of time to appeal.

An inter-ministerial working party will meet in the first half of 1998, under the auspices of the Directorate General of administration and civil service, to formulate organisational recommendations which will be the subject of a methodological guide issued to all government departments.

The dematerialisation of administrative procedures will make it possible to improve the service offered to users. For companies, the resulting simplifications will help to reduce the costs involved in administrative procedures.

Simplification of administrative formalities is one of the Government’s key concerns.

It is in this spirit that the "Commission pour la Simplification des Formalites" (COSIFORM - Commission for the Simplification of Formalities) developed a set of inter-ministerial guidelines on automatic data procedures in 1997 and that the Government recently decreed a set of administrative simplification measures for SMEs.

Numerous trials on automatic data procedures have already yielded promising results, in particular with respect to social affairs (annual declaration of social security contributions), tax affairs (submission of tax and accounting data) or customs affairs (declaration of inter-community trade of goods). Mention can also be made of the automatic data procedures implemented by the Ministry of the Interior for the acquisition of car registration papers, which concerned 20% of new vehicles in 1997.

The Government has decided to move on from trials to a strategy of gradually extending these applications.

All administrative forms will be available on the Internet by the end of 1998

Digitisation of all administrative forms should be completed, under the aegis of CERFA, by the end of 1998. It will be possible to automatically print these forms on the ADMIFRANCE site, which will be available at the start of spring 1998 and is likely to develop very rapidly.

The first automatic data transmission trials will be set up in 1998

The option to send administrative forms to the authorities by e-mail will be a natural extension of dematerialisation in this area. An initial set of automatic-transmission forms, which respect the open standards of the Internet, will be proposed for declarations involving both private individuals and companies, before the end of 1998. On-line help and explanatory notes will be offered at the same time as the electronic forms.

A list of procedures for priority dematerialisation will be drawn up

On the basis of the recommendations made in the report on electronic commerce which the Ministry of the Economy, finance and industry asked Mr. Francois LORENTZ to prepare, a list of priority procedures will be drawn up for fiscal and social declarations and public trade and an implementation schedule will be published.

Preparing for the gradual extension in the use of automatic data procedures

On the basis of the proposals made as a result of Mr. LORENTZ’s report, before the end of the first half of 1998, each Ministry will prepare a 3-year plan for the development of automatic data procedures specific to its own ministerial department. This plan will indicate a list of priority procedures to be dematerialised and will set a schedule. It must be coherent with the inter-ministerial guidelines on automatic data procedures, in particular with respect to compliance with EDIFACT standards for electronic data interchange (EDI).

Declarations and payments for Social Security contributions will be given priority in this dematerialising process

By the start of 1999 at the latest, companies will have the option of sending in their declarations by electronic mail after processing wages.

In anticipation of this service, from the end of the first half of 1998, the Social Security contributions single declaration service on Minitel, which to date has been operating on a trial basis, will be extended to all employers. To be subsequently linked up with an electronic remittance system, this service will enable companies to dispense with sending mail by conventional means, to complete all of their declarations at one time and to have assistance in calculating their contributions.

The development of electronic transactions and the dematerialisation of procedures poses problems with respect to authentication, security and confidentiality. Similarly, the value as evidence of digitised documents raises various issues.

Thus, if automatic data procedures are to be fully exploited, satisfactory solutions must be found with respect to the authentication, security and confidentiality of transactions. The interactive services offered by government departments will be required to develop in the context of the Internet, which is an open network, a situation which will demand, therefore, the increasing use of electronic signature and cryptology.

Standards for electronic signature must be offered to users in 1998

The Ministry of the Economy, finance and industry will lead an inter-ministerial working party, jointly with the Secretariat General for national defence, which will be responsible for proposing technical and legal conditions for the athentification and validation of electronic signature by the government before the end of 1998. This group will also make proposals relative to the required legislative and regulatory modifications.

The increase in the number of services offered to the public on electronic networks must not lead to a deepening of the divide separating those of our fellow citizens who have personal computer terminals at home from the rest of the population.

Thus, the government will be committed to developing the number of access points to the State’s on-line services in public places, to make sure that the information society is within the grasp of the greatest possible number of people.

1000 post offices will be equipped with Internet access in 1998

At the request of the Secretary of State for Industry, the Post Office will act as an example by providing the public with Internet-access terminals. By the end of 1998, this will involve 1000 post offices, both in rural and urban areas, particularly where social deprivation exists. The jobs for young people created by the Post Office could be used to help provide the public with information on how to use these terminals.

Trials will be conducted in 1998 on public access points to government electronic services

The public reception areas of the main local administrative authorities (sub-prefectures, public service agencies, public libraries, tax offices, local job centres, etc.) will, as of 1998, provide the public with Internet access points, to make it easier for them to consult the information sites offered by the government.

The State will encourage trials on public automatic data services

The electronic "visioguichet" (visio-booth) trials providing distance access to administrative and expert services using a personal computer will be extended. Thus, following trials conducted by the Ministry of the Economy, finance and industry in 1998, initial installations may be made in rural and suburban areas in 1999.

The State will offer its support to local authorities with respect to electronic administrative information for the public

The Government’s information department and "Documentation Francaise" (French Documentation Organisation) will set up an inter-ministerial working party, in partnership with the local authorities, to study ways to provide electronic access to administrative information which are tailored to local requirements. This information is for use by intermediation structures (public offices, associations, etc.), as well as interactive terminals situated in public areas and on the Internet.

Computerisation of government procedures is already underway, both for the main management applications and from the point of view of office equipment used by staff. However, in its role as an example to lead France into the information society, the State is faced with a threefold challenge:

The increasing use of all forms of communication by the government is an issue made all the more important by the fact that it reinforces the State’s capacity to contribute to national and regional development by extending the use of teleworking.

But the government will not be able to propose genuine automatic data procedures unless it adapts its internal working methods, which presupposes close adherence of staff to these changes.

The implementation of public policies by central and decentralised departments of the State, and by the organisations dependent on it, requires exchanges of information to which the traditional compartmentalization of government is not conducive.

Bringing government departments on-line thus means making a commitment to decompartmentalise the State, giving it the tools essential for such exchange, giving staff greater responsibility and also making day-to-day work more efficient.

Electronic mail and the pooling of information thus represent an opportunity to envisage new, more collective, more flexible and more reactive ways of organising work. In particular, skills spread over several sites or several departments could be used in synergy with one another.

In the face of the difficulties involved in inter-connecting existing networks, the progressive extension of use of Internet standards represents an essential requirement and will enable substantial economies to be made.

The Internet must become standard for government departments

When installing new systems or renewing existing information systems, the use of solutions compatible with Internet standards will be mandatory from now onwards.

Openness towards public networks will be given priority

The use of public telecommunications networks must be given priority over specialised networks. Public networks, which are benefiting from rapid developments in technology and falling costs, are in fact a key factor in openness, efficiency and economy.

In an increasingly open context, the State’s information systems must now incorporate new requirements to guarantee their security and the integrity and confidentiality of data exchanged.

The development of intranet-type solutions will be encouraged

Thanks to the use of Internet standards, intranet sites (i.e. internal to government departments) will make it easier to share and access information within a government department. intranet-type trials will be set up in 1998, to demonstrate the system’s potential for shared work and interactivity and to emphasise the key importance of better circulation of information within the department.

Internal electronic mail systems will be commonplace

Each Ministry will finish equipping its departments with electronic mail systems, providing secure access to the Internet before the end of 1998.

Each Ministry will make sure that all its members of staff using a computer in their work will have access to the electronic mail systems and an e-mail address.

The use of electronic mail standards compatible with the Internet will be mandatory

For electronic mail projects still to be implemented, the use of solutions compatible with Internet standards is now mandatory.

Ministerial electronic mail systems will be interconnected in 1998

An inter-ministerial working party led by the Government’s Secretariat General is responsible for ensuring that a secure inter-ministerial electronic mail system is set up before summer 1998, by interconnection of existing electronic mail systems in most ministries, which are currently characterised by their heterogeneity.

This solution is an interim phase, governed by the desire to act rapidly to fill in the most obvious gaps, leading towards the eventual setting-up of a genuine intranet within the State.

A prefiguration study of the future government intranet will be conducted in 1998

Ultimately, all the State’s departments, both central and decentralised, along with all French diplomatic posts, are to be linked by a vast information network, within which employees can not only use the electronic mail system but also access shared multimedia databases or use video-conferencing technology.

The Secretariat of State for Industry is responsible for conducting a prefiguration study into the future public intranet (which will also include Extranet-type elements, to encourage the use of public networks), the results of which are expected before the end of 1998.

To aid the strategy to encourage the use of the Internet by government departments, a brief has been assigned to Mr. Jean-Paul BAQUIAST

Before the end of April 1998, the Ministry of Civil service, State reform and decentralisation will ask Mr. Jean-Paul BAQUIAST, State Inspector and chairman of the Admiroutes association, to compile a report on the contribution of the Internet to modernisation of the State.

An operational part of this report must, in particular, contain method recommendations for departments involved in intranet projects, along with suggestions on how to process electronic mail received from the public.

While the networking of government departments is now imperative, the security of information exchanges (confidentiality and integrity of data, authentication of partners) and the protection of networks against intrusions and sabotage must obviously be guaranteed.

The security of information systems will be the subject of a guide issued to government departments

Before summer 1998, the "Service central de la securite des systemes d’information" (Central Department for the security of information systems) and the Secretariat of State for Industry will develop a guide to make recommendations to government departments on secure use of the Internet and security products (in particular, cryptology).

The State’s employees must be made aware of the issue of security of information systems

In the face of development of the State’s information systems and electronic mail, the risks of sabotage and intrusion are increased. Training of employees in the use of information and communications technology will have to place more emphasis on the reality and extent of these threats and the need for secure use of modern communications tools.

The development of regional information systems will be accelerated

The efforts to bring the State on-line will only make sense if modernisation of central and regional government departments is accompanied by a gradual extension of regional information systems, aimed at improving information exchange between the State’s decentralised departments within a given "departement" or region.

The setting-up of electronic mail systems linking central government and decentralised departments should make it possible to improve the efficiency and coherence of State action at local level, coordinated by the prefect of the "departement" or region.

The use of Internet standards will be mandatory at decentralised level

Regional information systems will be required to comply with the rules set by the government in terms of Internet standards.

France will support trials on electronic information exchange between European governments

France will support initiatives undertaken at European level to set up the IDA programme, relative to trans-European governmental networks. This programme specifically aims to enable development of electronic methods for exchanging information between governments.

The Plan’s General Commission will set up a working party on the State and information and communications technology

To aid deployment of the use of information and communications technology and the new networks within the State, the Plan’s General Commission has been assigned a brief to conduct a prospective study.

In particular, this brief will aim to study the consequences, for both the government and the public, of the State operating as a network, anticipating prospective changes in internal working methods.

The development of teleworking in government departments must be encouraged

A call for projects to develop teleworking in government departments will be launched in the first half of 1998 by the Ministry of Civil Service, State reform and decentralisation, in cooperation with the Ministry of National and regional development and the environment.

To this end, a charter for distance-working in government departments will be developed before the end of the first half of 1998.

The ability to use information and communications technology tools will be included in government recruitment policy

Civil service recruitment policy will be adapted to place more emphasis on tests related to the use of information technology. The Ministry responsible for the civil service will coordinate these changes.

Mandatory training in the use of information and communications technology must be incorporated into the programmes of civil servant training establishments

The teaching programmes of the various establishments for training civil servants will be revised, to provide future civil servants with training in the theory and practice of information and communications technology. In particular, it will be important for future senior civil servants to have mastered the use of personal computers and the Internet.

Ongoing training for all staff will be adapted

From 1998 onwards, each Ministry will develop staff-awareness and training initiatives relative to the use of information and communications technology and the surrounding issues. This theme will be among the priorities of the inter-ministerial initiatives for ongoing training implemented at central and decentralised level.

Specific training for management will be set up

From 1998 onwards, ongoing training courses, particularly aimed at management staff, on issues related to the information society and the Internet in government departments, will be organised. The Ministry of Civil Service, State reform and decentralisation will define the programme and material, in cooperation with the Ministry of Regional and national development and the environment.

The State’s computer systems represent an efficiency tool of growing importance. They must be more receptive to new technology and the information systems of their partners, more adaptable to changes in management methods, more decentralised and more effective at clarifying public decisions.

To modernise its information systems, the State must give priority to the use of open solutions available on the market

The quality and sheer number of software solutions available on the market lead to the recommendation that, as a general rule, the government should abandon development solutions involving specific computer applications which are frequently costly, cumbersome and difficult to up-date. The State must thus give priority to the use of the solutions available on the market wherever possible.

The government must adapt its computers to change to the year 2000 and the Euro

The State must meet the challenges of changing to the year 2000 and the Euro if it is to successfully modernise its computer systems. Its example in this area will be of particular importance.

The senior civil servants responsible for modernisation and decentralisation in each department will ensure that these major challenges are understood.

Computerised monitoring of expenditure will be updated

Before spring 1998, the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, in cooperation with the Ministry of Civil Service, State reform and decentralisation will publish a guidance document on the ACCORD project relative to the modernisation of computer applications for State budget management.

The new application will start to become operational in the year 2000.

Computerised State personnel management systems will be adapted

Before the end of the first half of 1998, on the basis of the conclusions of the specially created inter-ministerial working party, the Ministry of Civil Service, State reform and decentralisation will publish a strategy for the coordinated adaptation of computerised State personnel management systems. This should make it possible to better monitor personnel movements and management of projected staffing levels, jobs and skills.

Certain fundamental areas of our public services will undergo a period of profound change in coming years as a result of the introduction of information and communications technology. The public health field will be one of the most important examples of this, with the implementation of a social health network in 1998.

The social health network is one of the essential elements involved in the modernisation of the health and social sector. It must provide a global response to the need for exchanges of information, beginning with that related to health insurance, and will unite existing network initiatives.

A complete network of health services, accessible throughout the country, will become operational in 1998

The social health network will link the main players involved in the health sector, at the same cost throughout the country. In particular, it will make it possible to send health forms by automatic data transmission, to consult medical information banks and to circulate drug-monitoring data or health alerts.

This network will be used to back up relationships between outpatient and hospital medicine, in particular for communication between health professionals using, specifically, an electronic mail service. The social health network will thus be one of the tools used to improve the quality of care offered to patients.

The social health network will provide a tool for simplifying administrative procedures

By making it easier for very diverse institutions to work together, the social health network will encourage the simplification of procedures required of the public: looking after an elderly person at home following hospitalisation, sending of medical information, applications for reimbursement of prescriptions, etc.

The social health network is based on partnership between various players

Rapidly encouraging the emergence of communication services adapted to these needs requires the involvement of the State. A public service delegation for the implementation and operation of the network led to a call for tender, as a result of which the operator, Cegetel, was selected.

The social health network will respect Internet standards

The social health network will be both standardised and unifying:

The social health network will incorporate the need to respect a high level of security in an open environment

Particular attention has been paid to the question of security, given the absolute necessity of respecting the principles of medical secrecy, confidentiality of private life and the freedom of the individual. The ideal tools to provide this security are:

The first users of the social health network will be connected in 1998

A growing awareness of companies of the huge opportunities offered by the use of new information and communications technology tools in the management of production lines, the securing of markets, financial management or human relations is essential. This can only come from the companies themselves; it is thus private initiatives which will be the primary driving force for the computerisation of companies.

The State must nevertheless attempt to respond to any hesitation to invest in computer equipment on the part of companies, by means of initiatives to increase awareness and offer support. It can also lead the way by offering an example of ambitious use of information and communications technology to modernise public services, on the basis of the priorities detailed in this action programme.

French SMEs have been particularly slow to start using information technology although these tools are in fact a key factor if they are to remain competitive.

In fact, new technology and new information networks make it easier to monitor technological developments and competitors, encourage the networking of partners with similar centres of interest and provide access to human resources or remote consultancy. These technology tools can also be an efficient way of simplifying administrative procedures.

It is SMEs that can most benefit from the market opportunities represented by the development of electronic commerce on the Internet. Seizing these opportunities often means complete reorganisation of the company, which requires a gradual approach to the use of these types of technology and specific assistance.

As electronic commerce on the Internet is still a largely experimental area, the best way of encouraging SMEs is to highlight the success stories and to promote the sharing of experiences.

The system for increasing awareness and training SMEs will be strengthened

The system for increasing awareness and training SMEs will be strengthened, with the support of national centres of expertise such as AFCEE ("Association Francaise pour le commerce et les echanges electroniques" - French Association of electronic commerce and exchange) and EDIFRANCE (Association of computerised data exchange users) and on the basis of strong regional dynamism. These regional centres will initially be required to improve their own skills with respect to information technology.

The expertise of technical establishments will be exploited

Technical establishments will lend their assistance, by providing training for staff active in the SME environment.

A budget of 50 million French Francs has been set aside in 1998 to help SMEs to join the Internet

In addition to initiatives to increase awareness and provide training, individual or collective projects may be able to receive more direct support, by making use of existing procedures in electronic commerce and using the new system set up by the Secretariat of State and Industry to help SMEs acquire Internet technology. An allocation of 50 million French Francs has been set aside for this initiative in the 1998 budget; with management of the system being largely decentralised to regional industry, research and environment departments.

A guaranteed sum and specific assistance of 20 million French francs will be set up to encourage the development of the presence of French exporters on the Internet

To make companies aware of the specific role of the Internet in exporting, the Junior Minister for external commerce will give a guaranteed sum, which may be supplemented by specific operational assistance for SMEs, for developing the presence of French exporters on the Internet along with the use of the simplest communications methods provided by this tool. This operation will be allocated 20 million French Francs over two years, obtained by redeployment of external trade funds.

Specific help is planned for small companies in rural zones

Within the context of the national and regional development policy, and with the aim of helping small companies in rural zones, training schemes for very small companies in these disadvantaged areas will be undertaken on the initiative of the Ministry for national and regional development and the environment and the Ministry of national Education, research and technology, based on the use of school computer equipment outside of class times.

This initiative has already been