The 2nd Press Release: Inclusion, Participation, Trust and Security (Published on: 20.05.2002) Over three plenary and three thematic sessions the participants will discuss topical issues: inclusion, participation, trust and security in the information society. They will also touch on digital society and the economy, information infrastructure and electronic services at local level. What is the topic of this conference? Information infrastructure, applications and other electronic services should provide equal inclusion of people and regions. This includes the inclusion of civil society, the economy and public administration in a public and easily accessible way. The European Union member states and candidate countries promote transparent solutions based on standards, and simplify participation of businesses and establishment of links between the economy and public sector. People of various ages and people with disabilities as well as ethnic minorities must be bale to make use of the advantages offered by information and communications technology. Due to major changes in the society brought about by the fast development of information and communications technologies some fear that participation of people in the information society will not be balanced and that the digital gap will widen. Countries are promoting trust building measures for which secure networks and electronic services must be provided. Therefore candidate countries accelerated the introduction of digital signatures as equivalents to personal signatures. The authentication of digital signatures is made by way of digital certificates for which the highest level of security and electronic protection is provided. The European Ministerial Conference on Information Society will be held in Ljubljana on 3 and 4 June. The conference is organised by the Ministry of Information Society of the Republic of Slovenia and the European Commission (Information Society DG and Enlargement DG). The conference will witness the 13 candidate countries presenting and publishing the first report on progress achieved in the implementation of eEurope+ Action Plan, a programme for the development of information society in candidate countries. For the first time the candidate countries will report on the progress they have made in developing knowledge based economy, modernising public (electronic) services and bridging the digital divide. The invitation for media to attend this conference is still open and your applications for accreditation are welcome. Applications for accreditation should be sent at the latest by 20 May 2002 to the following address: (Government Public Relations and Media Office) Urad vlade za informiranje Slovenska cesta 29, Ljubljana Fax: +386 1 478 25 62 and +386 1 478 26 53 Contact person for accreditation: Ms Nataša Marvin, Government Public Relations and Media Office Telephone: +386 1 478 2606 e-mail: natasa.marvin@gov.si Contact person for press releases: Ms Nina Novinec, Ministry of Information Society Telephone: +386 1 478 84 33 e-mail: nina.novinec@gov.si Republic of Slovenia, Ministry of Information Society in co-operation with the European Commission, DG Information Society and DG Enlargement Contact info: gp.mid@gov.si Web: http://emcis.gov.si, http://www.europa.eu.int/eeuropeplus