Brussels, 25/08/2010 (Agence Europe) - The reflection group on digitalisation set in place by the European Commission in April 2010, which is also known as the “Committee of the Wise”, last week opened a consultation procedure to encourage the process of making cultural heritage available on line. The Commission asked the group to find innovative solutions to encourage the sectors which create culture to adapt more quickly to technological progress and to consider the best options to speed up the digitalisation, uploading and conservation of cultural resources throughout Europe. Interested parties are invited to give their opinions on these issues, particularly as regards potential sources of funding for the digitalisation work and the development of Europeana, the European digital library, the conditions for the public-private partnerships concluded to carry out the digitalisation work, the uploading of documents protected by copyright and cross-border access to digitalised resources. The consultation is to run until 30 September 2010. The reflection group will then analyse the responses and organise a hearing to follow up on the issue on 28 October. At the end of the year, it will present a raft of recommendations concerning digitalisation, on-line accessibility and the conservation of European cultural heritage in the digital age. (I.L./transl.fl)