More than 30 delegates from 15 countries are arriving in the city on Wednesday (19 January) for the annual Telecities conference. The high-profile event brings together top-level figures from the world of e-government and e-business. They are developing new ideas which will help shape the future policies of the European Commission.
Liverpool City Council is a key member of the Telecities group. In 2003, Liverpool hosted the Telecities conference for the first time.
The organisation was so impressed by the way the city council is using new technology to improve services, that in November 2004, Liverpool councillor Chris Newby was named the first UK president of the group for over a decade.
Councillor Newby said: "Liverpool is increasingly seen as the capital of technology. Hosting this conference shows Europe recognises the important voice we now have in e-government.
"In the space of a few years, Liverpool has been transformed from a city council with outdated working practices to a city which is hosting the continent's biggest e-government group. I'm delighted we are leading the way in shaping and influencing the future of e-government."
Discussions at the conference, being held at St George's Hall, will include 'e-citizenship' - which aims to give everyone in Europe access to new technology, and using 'wireless' technology and broadband to improve customer services.
And delegates will see a special presentation telling them about Liverpool's Capital of Culture preparations. In charge of Liverpool City Council's Customer Services, Councillor Jeremy Chowings, said: "These are exciting times for Liverpool, and I'm delighted delegates from all over Europe are in the city to see our renaissance.
"Hosting the Telecities conference cements our position as one of Europe's most technologically advanced local authorities. It gives us the chance to develop new ideas with our European counterparts and tell them how we are turning our vision of 'Seaport to E-Port' into reality."
Telecities is a major network of European cities committed to innovation and new technology. Established in 1993, it provides a platform for businesses and local authorities from 140 cities to develop new ideas.
The three-day conference takes place from Wednesday 19 January to Friday 21 January. Representatives from countries including Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, France, Holland, Poland, Spain and Sweden are attending. The group will then share their ideas with the European Commission and help them deliver new policies, programmes and initiatives for the whole of Europe.
Quelle: Liverpool City Council, 18.01.2005
