The contribution of Axis 3 to aims 1.1, 2 and 3 of the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion is important and is carried out with all the Measures of the Axis, aiming, among other things, at promoting employment, upgrading the skills of human resources, research, and technological development.

Measure 3.1 The Development of a Favourable Environment for Economic Activity and Measure 3.2 Business Assistance for their Introduction to eEconomy have a limited contribution to the NAPIn aims, since the OPIS does not contain clear and direct actions for the assistance of business activity especially for vulnerable groups.

The actions for the agricultural sector, in Measure 3.1 and particularly in the Action Category 3.1 6, and the actions of the Active Farmers program of Measure 3.2, Action Category 3.2.1, may be considered relevant to aim 2 about geographic isolation and reorganization of rural regions.

Measure 3.3 Research and Technological Development for IS offers an over all contribution to NAPIn with the Action Category 3.3.1 for research and technological development. First, in aim 1.1 through the provisions for e-learning, and second in aim 2 through the sum of planned applications that include the support of e-business and the laying of the foundation for the development of complete systems for user interface, that utilize digital image, sound and language processing, and the creation of technological and research networks.

By the end of 2004 Measure 3.3 included projects that added to a total budget of 62,499,966€ and they are all in progress.

Measure 3.4 Upgrade of the Skills of Human Resources contributes to aim 1.1-Pylon I with all the Action Categories it contains, as well as aim 2 Prevention of the Exclusion Risk of NAPIn. Specifically, in the Action Categories that relate to training programs (3.4.1 and 3.4.2) a quota of 10% for people with special needs is mentioned in the relevant Project Technical Reports, but there are no corresponding indexes to monitor this commitment in action. It is mentioned that the target group for the above actions are ‘individuals of the general population with an emphasis on people with special needs’, while the aim for 2006 is 15,000 people trained long distance. The expected cost is 201,451,000€.

A new Invitation for Measure 3.4 is expected to be published relating to long distance training of 500 people with disabilities (mobility difficulties) and 7,000 women, as well as training on basic ICT skills for 15,000 women.

On the contrary, in Measure 3.5 Promotion of Employment in IS there is no provision for dealing with unemployment among new university graduates in vulnerable groups, however there is a quota to women’s benefit, which we believe, will help women from vulnerable groups.

A positive contribution is offered by Action Category 3.5.3 for the promotion of satellite offices, by giving priority to ‘business plans that facilitate employment in regions with difficulty in accessing business centers as well as vulnerable groups’ and contributes to aims 1.1, 2 and 3 of the NAPIn.

Here as well the target group for the above actions are ‘individuals of the general population with emphasis on the people with special needs”, while the aim for 2006 is 3,000 tele-employees with declared expenses of 63,482,333€.

For the time being there are no provisions in Measures 3.4 and 3.5 for the participation of other vulnerable groups by positive actions, although they are mentioned in the target definition of the particular actions.