In March 2000 the Lisbon program was launched for transforming the European Union into a dynamic Knowledge Society by 2010. Over four years have elapsed since then. Though some positive results can be shown, there are also some unsatisfactory delays. For the European textile and clothing industry is concerned, the economic slowdown of recent years is not the only or even the main cause of its weak performance in the field of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). More important factors are its SME-structure and a lack of investments due to the uncertainty before the Big Bang of 2005. In 2003, the e-Business W@tch organised an e-Business Survey among around 10,800 decision makers in companies from 26 EU, acceding and European Economic Area states. The e-Business W@tch is a working group created by the European Commission Directorate General Enterprise, to monitor the development of electronic business across different sectors of the EU economy. Since late 2001 the e-Business W@tch has been monitoring and assessing the economic implications of electronic business across different sectors of the EU economy. Its analysis is based on empirical research and statistical data resulting from annual enterprise surveys in all countries of the enlarged European Union. The e-Business W@tch has rapidly developed from a market observatory into a think-tank stimulating the debate on economic and policy implications of e-business, in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises.
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