The planning of the Operational Programme for 2005 was successful. More than 40 digital bodies for the provision of services for the citizens were financed, while the bodies in the Regions through the big intervention “Digital Local Authorities” are being particularly conspicuous. Mr. Asimakopoulos mentioned that “it is estimated that there will not be any loss of resources for the Programme for 2005”, while he stressed “that as regards the next steps of the Programme in 2006, it is up to the implementators to continue”.

In the context of the actions for the promotion of bandwidth, the Special Secretary for Information Society, M.V.Asimakopoulos, signed the financing for the development of the Metropolitan Optic Fibres Networks in 49 municipalities around the country. The evaluation of the proposals of another 20 municipalities will be completed in September.

The Special Secretary for the Information Society, M.V.Asimakopoulos, following an initiative announced in January 2005, signed the financing of 113 new projects of a total budget of 97M€, for the development of electronic services aiming at the amelioration of the citizens’ daily life.

More than 890 of 1st and 2nd degree LAO, around Greece, expressed their interest in participating in the development of electronic services for the citizens, in the context of the initiative taken by the Special Secretary for the Information Society, prof. V.Asimakopoulos, for the regions.

The Special Secretary for the Information Society, prof.V.Asimakopoulos announced a crucial intervention, which aims at the development of electronic services of immediate benefit for the citizens of the regions. The intervention will be implemented in the 1st and 2nd degree LAO and in the regions that will express an interest to participate.

The Special Secretary for the Information Society, prof. V.Asimakopoulos announced that in 2004 the losses of the resources from the “Information Society” Operational Program were zero, thanks to the application of the rule “ν+2”.

The Special Secretary for the IS, prof.V.Asimakopoulos, presented the basic principles of the new European Strategy for the Information Society for the period up to 2010 and referred to the contribution of the Special Secretariat in the setting of the new European targets.

The Special Secretary for the Information Society, prof.V.Asimakopoulos, focusing on projects that will practically improve the citizens’ lives, announces 43 new projects of electronic services, of 69.5M€ total budget.

Following the Governmental Committee meeting for the discussion of the progress of the Operational Program for the Information Society, the Minister of Economy and Finance made the following statement:

The Special Secretariat for the Information Society secured another 40M€ for the “IS” Operational Program that will be dedicated for the development of services aiming at the facilitation of the citizens’ daily transactions with the public institutions.