Brussels, 08/06/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 8 June, the Telecommunications Council held, in Luxembourg, a public policy debate on trans-European telecommunications networks on the basis of the regulation proposed by the European Commission in October 2011. Deployment of digital infrastructure is unavoidable if economic recession is to be addressed and growth and employment stimulated. It is also essential to meet the demands of citizens, who are forever chasing new technological applications, and of businesses, which have a growing need for digital solutions in order to develop innovative activity, Danish Minsiter Ole Sohn and Neelie Kroes, Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, explained. Ministers were invited to identify the criteria that must be used, in their view, for the selection of broadband deployment projects and the types of European cross-border digital services infrastructures likely to benefit from funding. According to Commissioner Kroes, the aim is to have a flexible system that does not create new barriers, which forms a link with the market, and which is transparent and flexible.
Delegations hoped to have a balanced project portfolio, saying projects should meet the criteria of neutrality and be aimed at filling the digital gap. They want a targeted approach that meets the Digital Agenda for Europe - namely that all citizens have basic high speed coverage by 2013 and 30 Mbps by 2020, with access to 100Mbps for at least 50% of households. Some member states also want more cohesion between the different forms of financing and place their hopes on targeted intervention whenever competition is lacking. Certain member states would also like a list that is far shorter and more targeted than that proposed by the Commission for projects of common interest.
The regulation proposed by the Commission establishes guidelines covering the objectives and priorities envisaged in the field of broadband networks and digital public service infrastructure. It includes an inventory of common interest projects in this field. Financing concerning the regulation must be negotiated in the context of the CEF financial instrument, associated with the next multiannual financial framework 2014-2020, and was therefore not examined during the session. The day before, transport ministers had looked at the proposal for a regulation establishing the mechanism for the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in greater detail (see EUROPE 10629). The Commission presented the proposal in June 2011, with a view to promoting the realisation of priority infrastructure in the field of energy, transport and digital services, with a single fund of €40 billion, of which €9.2 billion will be devoted to broadband networks and to digital service infrastructure. (IL/transl.jl)