ICT : E-COMMERCE ACCOUNTS FOR 12% OF EU ENTERPRISES' TURNOVER.

E-commerce - ie purchases and sales made via websites or via automated data exchange - accounted for 12% of enterprises' turnover in the EU27 in 2008. This is the main finding of a Eurostat survey conducted at the beginning of 2009 on information and communication technologies (ICT) in enterprises in the EU27 member states, Croatia and Norway(1).

The share of enterprise turnover generated from e-commerce in 2008 varied significantly between member states. The highest shares were recorded in Ireland (26%), Finland and Sweden (both 18%), the Czech Republic, Germany and the United Kingdom (all 15%), Hungary (14%) and France (13%). The lowest shares were observed in Bulgaria and Cyprus (both 1%).

In January 2009, 93% of enterprises of ten or more persons employed had access to the internet in the EU27 and 82% of enterprises had a broadband internet connection. The highest proportions of enterprises with internet access in the EU27 were recorded in Finland (100%), Denmark, Austria and Slovakia (all 98%) and Germany (97%). The percentage was less than 90% in only six member states: Romania (72%), Bulgaria (83%), Latvia and Hungary (both 87%), Cyprus (88%) and Greece (89%).

The proportion of enterprises with a broadband connection in January 2009 was above 90% in Finland (94%), Spain and Malta (both...