E-europe For All
     Mann says the European Internet Foundation is not meant to mirror the "eEurope" plan, which is designed to fast-forward Europe into the information age. But the EIF does reflect a willingness among European members of parliament to embrace broad technology policies. In addition, three members of parliament formed the European Parliamentarians Internet Group (EPING) in January as another forum for tech issues.
     This kind of support in Parliament for technology issues might give the eEurope plan, first announced by the European Commission in December, the support it needs to succeed, said Willard Berry, president of the European-American Business Council.
     "They (members of parliament) have to see what the benefits (of the eEurope plan) are," he said. "You have to convince members of the Parliament that this is something that they have to make a commitment to."
     The eEurope plan is a comprehensive set of initiatives that aims to provide Europeans access to the Internet and infuse technology into aspects of daily life, such as the need for education, transportation and healthcare. The plan also calls for fostering e-commerce, boosting research and development funding and finding venture capital for Internet startups — one area where Europe is woefully behind the United States.
     Although there won't be an action plan on eEurope until June, some of the related issues already are getting play. Mann and Berry said high Internet-access rates are one of the largest roadblocks keeping Europe's new economy behind the United States. Because many European consumers pay for local telephone calls per minute, Internet use can be expensive. The European Union is expected to propose slashing local telephone costs across the European Union at a March EU summit in Lisbon, Portugal, but Berry said some of the EU member states could oppose this.

The Cultural Connection
     Technical hurdles aside, Berry pointed out that Europe is seriously challenged by such disparate, yet geographically-connected cultures, and it doesn't foster entrepreneurs well.
     "The whole European way is essentially different from the kind of entrepreneurial culture we have [in the United States]," he said. "People are not used to taking risks, they generally defer to the government to provide leadership."
     Berry added that businesses struggle to sort through the patchwork of regulations across the European Union.
     James Elles, a member of European Parliament from the United Kingdom and a founding member of the European Internet Foundation, said that language barriers also have stymied the Net's development in Europe. Thanks to one language and one economy, consumers and businesses in the United States have an easier time than Europe traversing the Net, Elles pointed out.

Europe Aims To Keep Up With The U.S.
     Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-VA, who recently led a congressional delegation to Europe to promote e-commerce, said his visit highlighted Europe's desire to overcome these challenges.
     "I led another delegation a year ago, and the contrast was striking. They have a lot of catching up to do, and they know that," said Goodlatte, who added that more international cooperation would be required as technology issues become increasingly global.
     Elles agreed that Europe is determined not to be left behind in the race to wire the globe. "There is a real determination in Europe to make sure by 2002 that we have as many users on the Net as in the United States," he said.
     Still, Elles said technical and political change will be gradual, and he is optimistic that groups such as the European Internet Foundation will give people a new voice in democracy and technology.
     Erica Mann, whose ambitious plan for the EIF took root years ago, echoes that sentiment.
     "It's our common future we are shaping," she said. "Hopefully, we can try to gain common ground."
- by Caroline Broder