Brussels, 19/02/2002 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the informal meeting of Ministers of Telecommunications and the Information Society, to be held from 21 to 23 February in Vitoria (Basque country, Spain), UNICE, which represents European business, launched an appeal for the redefinition, after 2002, of the future European strategy for the Information Society. UNICE considers that, despite progress made, there is still much to be done to ensure affordable, rapid and secure Internet access for all throughout the EU. The employers' organisation calls on the Member States to take the measures needed to: - promote the take-up and roll-out of broadband in Europe; - demonstrate their commitment to effective and full liberalisation of telecommunications; - stimulate full participation by SMEs in the e-Economy; - seek to increase Internet penetration; - provide stakeholders in e-commerce with legal clarity and security; - and improve the security of information infrastructures and combat computer-related crime while refraining from doing so at the expense of industry and/or at the expense of fundamental rights such as the right to privacy. UNICE considers that "if (in Vitoria) ministers do not prepare an eEurope action plan proposal that goes beyond 2002, and that meets the six essential requirements listed by UNICE, the Barcelona summit of Heads of State and Government in mid-March will not be able to approve meaningful, coherent guidelines for a thriving Information Society in Europe".