48. Welcomes the results achieved to date in connection with the exchange of experience and best practice between regions and local communities through cooperation networks, and calls on the Commission for continued support to be provided for the development of such networks and innovation transfer through the deployment of leading-edge information and communication technologies, which significantly facilitate the transfer and exchange of information, particul ...[+++]arly in view of the need to involve communities living in remote areas; welcomes, in this connection, the fact that through the Regions for Economic Change initiative the Commission is encouraging regions and towns to cooperate, but awaits specific proposals for the implementation of that initiative;

13. Regrets that, to date, local authorities in developing countries have only been involved in the implementation of projects and not in the definition of development policies, even in ACP countries, despite the revision of the Cotonou Agreement which places political dialogue with local authorities at the heart of the partnership; undertakes, therefore, to carry out a detailed political follow-up with associations of elected representatives of the implementation of the DCI within both the EU and developing countries, in particular by examining country strategy papers, and to inform local authorities of new opportunities open to them and, in the event of difficulties on the ground raised by local authorities, to forward ...[+++]information to the Commission;

– for inclusion: to empower individuals and their communities and improve equal participation of all citizens in the information society, while preventing digital divides due to disability, low skills, poverty, geographic isolation, culture, gender or age, inter alia through support to assistive technology, promoting independent living (e.g. through home healthcare technologies and services) , increasing e-skills, and developing products and services designed-for-all;

– for inclusion: to empower individuals and their communities and improve equal participation of all citizens in the information society, while preventing digital divides due to disability, low skills, poverty, geographic isolation, culture, gender or age, inter alia through support to assistive technology, promoting independent living, increasing e-skills, and developing products and services designed-for-all;

Given the very broad range of issues and interactions that are implied in the relations between science and technology, on one hand, and the broader community, on the other, these considerations must be integrated within all areas of activity of the framework programme.

(10) The capacity of local authority networks should be strengthened at European level, good practices in the fields of sustainable urban development and local Agenda 21 should be developed and exchanged, and these activities should be coordinated in order to relay to the Commission information and opinions from local authorities on new and emerging prospects in areas relating to sustainable development.