A Call to Arms: e-Skills Book Launch

European Decision Makers Called to Arm all Citizens With the Tools to Compete in the Digital Age in New Book 'The E-Skills Manifesto - A Call To Arms' Launched at the European Business Summit in Brussels

BRUSSELS, July 28, 2010 - 'The e-Skills Manifesto - A Call to Arms,' authored by Ade McCormack -
Financial Times columnist, adviser and ICT market commentator - makes its
European debut today. Teasing out the strengths, opportunities and challenges
ahead for Europe, the book is universally endorsed by the European digital
technology industry sector as an outstanding reference text for policy and
decision makers.

"This evidence based work guides decision makers in addressing an issue
which lies at the heart of Europe's capacity to build a culture of innovation
and a fully inclusive digital society,' states Bridget Cosgrave,
Director-General, DIGITALEUROPE.

"Any public official who values developing young talent and building a
culture of innovation in Europe should read, 'The e-Skills Manifesto, A Call
to Arms', says Jan Muehlfeit, Chairman of Microsoft Europe. "Lead figures in
government, education, policy, research and industry outline the commitments
required for preparing European citizens to take on the challenges of the
digital age."

"This Manifesto firmly places e-Skills as a priority issue for European
Institutions and Member States, mapping out as it does the relationship
between digital literacy, competitiveness, productivity growth and job
creation," adds Muehlfeit.

"This book is a clarion call for decision makers to harness talent,
leverage opportunities and enable all European citizens to engage fully in
the global digital society," Muehlfeit concludes.

"The importance of e-skilling cannot be over-emphasised. Productivity
growth requires that European citizens not only acquire digital skills for
the work and study they currently do, but equip themselves with the tools
needed to deal with the pace of the digital revolution sweeping across all
cultures and societies," states Johan Deschuyffeleer, Senior Vice President,
Technology Services EMEA, HP.

"McCormack encourages stakeholders to re-examine the ways in which
European business, education and government approach life-long skilling. For
European business and society to benefit in competitive times, those who
strive for excellence will be the winners. The e-Skills Manifesto provides a
vision for Europe to keep pace with and stay ahead of the competition,"
outlines Deschuyffeleer.

"Motorola welcomes 'The e-Skills Manifesto' and strongly supports its
"call to arms". Earlier this year, the European e-Skills Week proved a big
success; however we need to keep momentum high at both EU and national levels
to ensure that all European citizens are equipped with the necessary skills
in technology to embrace the digital revolution," points out Karen Tandy,
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs & Communications, Motorola.

The e-Skills Manifesto was produced by DIGITALEUROPE and European
Schoolnet as part of the European e-Skills Week, supported by the European
Commission.

To download 'The e-Skills Manifesto, A Call to Arms', please visit:

eskills-week.ec.europa.eu/e-skills_Manifesto

Media Enquiries: Natalia KUROP - DIGITALEUROPE, Director Communication & Marketing, T. +32-2-609-53-26 >> F. +32-2-609-53-39 >> M. +32-487-34-05-71 >> E. natalia.kurop at digitaleurope.org