L 107/10 Official Journal of the European Communities 7.4.98 (Acts whose publication is not obligatory) COUNCIL COUNCIL DECISION of 30 March 1998 adopting a multiannual Community programme to stimulate the establishment of the Information Society in Europe (Information Society) (98/253/EC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 235 thereof, Having regard to the Commission proposal ('), Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (%), (1) Whereas the establishment of the Information Society can, by introducing new forms of economic, political and social relations, help the Community to cope with the challenges of the next century, in particular the creation of new jobs, as indicated in the White Paper on ‘Growth, competitiveness and employment — the chal- lenges and ways forward into the 21st century’; (2) Whereas the European Council in Corfu on 24 and 25 June 1994 took note of the recommendations of the High Level Group on the Information Society as presented in the report ‘Europe and the Global Information Society’ and the Commission estab- lished an action plan consisting of concrete meas- ures at both Community and Member States level; (3) Whereas the European Council in Florence on 21 and 22 June 1996 underlined the potential of the Information Society for education and training, for the organisation of work and for employment cre- ation; () OJ C 51, 21. 2. 1997, p. 12. () O C 222, 21. 7. 1997, p. 39. ) Whereas the pace of progress in the development of the Information Society depends to a large extent on the awareness, understanding and support by citizens and public and private organisa- tions, of the possibilities of applications of new information and communication technologies to service people’s and business’ needs; Whereas the establishment of the Information Society will require availability, for each citizen, company or public organisation, in every part of the Community, of information of any nature they need; Whereas the establishment of the Information Society will gradually reorganise the nature and content of human activity in all areas, and have important cross-sectoral effects in areas of activity hitherto independent; Whereas the measures necessary for the imple- mentation of the Information Society have to take into account the economic and social cohesion of the Community as well as continuity in the func- tioning of the internal market; Whereas the definition of these measures requires preparatory analyses, aimed at improving under- standing of the various fields which may be affected by Community actions related to the Information Society;