EU Policy Handbook

The 2000 Lisbon European Council provided an overarching strategy for realising Europe’s vast potential. Its centerpiece is the goal of making the EU the most competitive knowledge-based society in the world by 2010.

The information and communications technology (ICT) sector is perhaps uniquely placed to help advance the Lisbon goals, and Microsoft is eager to contribute to this process. It has been our great privilege to have been present in the EU since 1982. Today, we do business in every Member State, employ over 10,000 people in the EU, and maintain leading research facilities in Denmark, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. Some 95,000 European businesses develop software on the Microsoft platform, and over 1.6 million Europeans work for distributors and developers of Microsoft products. In addition, we are focused on supporting small and medium sized enterprises, which in turn, contribute to Europe’s economic growth, productivity, and competitiveness.

We are committed to contributing positively to the many European communities that we are fortunate to call home. This policy handbook is intended as one small step in that direction. It provides a brief overview of some of the most important pending EU policy initiatives affecting the ICT sector that will help shape implementation of the Lisbon Agenda and determine the measure of its success. The summary of each initiative provides key background information and a short explanation of our perspective on the contribution it can make to a flourishing and inclusive Information Society in Europe.

Click on a link below to download the corresponding policy issue overview in PDF format.