24.3.2005 Official Journal of the European Union L 79/1 | (Acts whose publication is obligatory) DECISION NO 456/2005/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 9 March 2005 establishing a multiannual Community programme to make digital content in Europe more accessible, usable and exploitable (Text with EEA relevance) THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL OF THE (2) Internet penetration in the Community is still growing EUROPEAN UNION, considerably. The opportunities offered by the Internet should be exploited in order to enable every individual and organisation in the Community to enjoy the social and economic benefits of sharing information and knowledge. The stage has now been set in Europe to Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European exploit the potential of digital content. Community, and in particular Article 157(3) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, (3) The conclusions of the European Council held in Lisbon on 23 and 24 March 2000 stressed that the shift to a digital, knowledge-based economy, prompted by new goods and services, will be a powerful engine for growth, competitiveness and jobs. On that occasion the role of the content industries in creating added value by exploiting and networking European cultural diversity was specifically recognised. Having regard to the opinion of the European Economic and Social Committee (%), After consulting the Committee of the Regions, (4) The eEurope 2005 Action Plan, developing the Lisbon strategy, calls for actions to stimulate the emergence of secure services, applications and content over broadband networks and thus to provide a favourable environment for private investment, for the creation of new jobs, to boost productivity, to modernise public services and to give everyone the opportunity to participate in the global information society. Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty (3, Whereas: (1) The evolution of the information society and the (5) The demand for quality digital content in Europe, with N — N emergence of broadband will influence the life of every citizen in the European Union by, inter alia, stimulating access to knowledge and new ways of acquiring knowl- edge, thus increasing the demand for new content, applications and services. O] C 117, 30.4.2004, p. 49. Opinion of the European Parliament of 22 April 2004 (not yet published in the Official Journal), Council Common Position of 24 September 2004 (O] C 25 E, 1.2.2005, p. 19) and Position of the European Parliament of 27 January 2005 (not yet published in the Official Journal). Council Decision of 28 February 2005. balanced access and user rights, by a broad community, be they citizens in society, students, researchers, SMEs and other business users, or people with special needs wishing to augment their knowledge, or ‘re-users’ wishing to exploit digital content resources to create services, is increasingly apparent. Digital content stakeholders are content providers (including public and private organisations and institu- tions that create, collect or own digital content) and content users (including organisations and enterprises that are end-users that reuse and/or add value to digital content). Particular attention should be given to the participation of SMEs.