The United Nations, being aware of the significance of the social, economic and cultural changes which are taking place as a consequence of the Information Society, set the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in motion, organised in two phases. The first phase culminated with the Geneva Summit in December 2003. The second will end with the Tunis Summit which will take place from the 16th to the 18th of November 2005.
Local Authorities (cities, regions and local governments) represent some of the main driving forces of the Information Society. To this end, local authorities have established a process of mobilisation, consensus and formulation of their vision and of proposals for plans of action through which they are developing their role as regards the Information Society.