Brussels, 29/11/2005 (Agence Europe) - Nearly 10,000 primary and secondary schools have joined the eTwinning initiative, which was launched on 14 January 2005, the European Commission has announced. This action, which is the principal initiative of the eLearning programme, aims to encourage twinning and partnerships between schools via the Internet, whilst giving a European dimension to the use of information and communication technologies in schools. Schools are free to decide for themselves what nature of partnership they wish to set up, whether it is simply a matter of taking inspiration from the ideas of other schools in Europe, or to undertake activity projects with them. "eTwinning is a new and complementary approach to European action in the field of education", said Commissioner Jan Figel. This programme is, indeed, different from other "education" programmes, because instead of paying for individual projects, this provides schools with the infrastructure, instruments and services to help them to create all types of partnership, from short-term projects to cooperation projects of greater duration, in any field. The best "eTwinning" projects will be rewarded at a ceremony to take place in Linz, Austria, on 13 January 2006 (Infos: http://www.etwinning.net ).