Brussels, 14/06/2002 (Agence Europe) - EU Telecommunications Ministers will be faced with a full agenda at their meeting on 18 June in Luxembourg. It is expected that the Council will reach a political agreement on the updating of the IDA data exchange programme between administrations. Pending the opinion of the European Parliament, ministers are also to adopt a general direction on extension of the plan to counter messages with an unlawful and harmful content diffused on the Internet. A decision on the revision of the guidelines relating to the transeuropean telecommunications networks (RTE-T) is also expected. The issues to be examined by the Council are:
IDA II programme. Following the opinion given on 11 June by the European Parliament (see below), the Council is expected to reach a political agreement on the updating of the second phase of the programme (launched in 1999) aimed at promoting the establishment and the use of transeuropean networks for electronic data exchange between administrations (IDA II). The programme is aimed at facilitating data exchange, mainly in order to support the implementation of Community policies. It comprises two sections: the first defines a series of common projects and guidelines on IDA networks; the second fixes a series of actions and measures aimed at ensuring the interoperability of IDA networks and access to these networks. The main modifications proposed by the Commission concern: - the introduction of a financial reference for the period 2002-2004, namely EUR 39.8 million for the "guidelines" chapter and EUR 34.2 million for the "interoperability" chapter; - opening of the programme to the countries applying for accession; and the taking into account of the eEurope action plan.
Transeuropean networks. The Council is to adopt a decision amending the guidelines in force since 1997 for transeuropean telecommunications networks, a decision that will probably integrate all the amendments voted in first reading by the European Parliament on 14 May. The amendments recommended by the Commission concern among other things the transeuropean dimension of the projects, integration of relevant strategic priorities of the eEurope action plan, reduction in the number of areas covered, deployment of public services and the interconnection and interoperability of networks.
Illegal and harmful Internet content. Pending the opinion of the European Parliament, the Council should finalise general guidelines on the proposal aimed at a two-year extension of the 1999-2002 action plan relating to a safer use of the Internet by combating messages with unlawful and harmful context diffused on global networks (see EUROPE of 27 March, p.14). The text aims to: - create a safer environment by setting in place a network of hotlines in Europe and by encouraging self-regulation; - develop filtering and voluntary classification systems with regard to content; - and encourage actions for transnational awareness at European level. To finance the extension, the Commission proposes an additional budgetary allocation of EUR 13.3 million. The extended action plan will: - contribute to the achievement of the aims of the eEurope action plan; - comprise measures intended to encourage exchanges of information and coordination between players concerned at national level (with specific reference to candidate countries); - gather within a forum all the operators actively involved in the self-regulation field; - cover different kinds of illegal content or behaviour, including racist content; - and seek means to prevent children being contacted on line by paedophiles.
eEUROPE 2005. The Council will proceed to a policy debate on the eEUROPE 2005 action plan (see EUROPE of 30 May, p.6), which will be presented several days later at the Seville Summit. The plan aims to create an environment that is propitious for private investment and the creation of new jobs, the stimulation of productivity, modernisation of public services (schools, health services, on-line government) and which will give each citizen the possibility to take part in the global information society. To reach these aims, the Commission recommends making wide ban access massively available at competitive prices and setting in place a secure information infrastructure.
Internet Ipv6 Protocol. The Council will examine the communication in which the Commission, which is keen to maintain and to take advantage of the first place held by the EU in cordless and mobile communications, recommends an effective transition to the new generation Internet based on Protocol Ipv6, which replaces the current Ipv4 (see EUROPE of 22 February, p.10).
Internet management. On the basis of information provided by the Commission, the Council will hold a policy debate concerning the state of negotiations under way on international Internet management and reform of ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). It will also follow broad lines aimed at coordinating the positions of Member States in this connection with a view to the next meeting of the ICANN government advisory committee in Bucharest on 24 and 26 June. In a resolution adopted on 30 October 2000, the Council had invited the Member States to consult each other with a view to developing common positions to be defended within the international meetings concerned, thus obtaining true internationalisation of Internet management. In March, the Council entrusted Coreper with coordinating the positions of Member States in good time.
Mobile communications of the third generation. The Council will hear Commissioner Liikanen present his recent communication on the prospects of third generation mobile communications (see EUROPE of 13 June, p.16) as well as the follow-up granted by the Commission to the conclusions of the Barcelona Summit concerning: - platforms opened in the field of digital television and third generation mobile communications; - and national systems of electronic identification and authentication.
Reform of the "telecommunications" regulation. Erkki Liikanen will also brief the Council on the state of work on the accompanying measures needed for implementing reform of the telecommunications regulation, namely: - recommendation on relevant products and services markets; - guidelines on the analysis of the market and assessment of market power; - establishment of a group of representatives of the regulatory authorities to advise the Commission on implementation of the "telecom package"; - and the establishment of a high level expert group to deal with issues relating to radio spectrum.
Competition and telecommunications services markets. The Commission will inform the Council of the state of progress of work on its draft directive relating to competition in the electronic communications services market, which was submitted to the consultation of the parties interested. The project is based on Article 86§3 of the Treaty that grants the Commission exclusive competence for the adoption, where necessary, of directives for the application of competition rules. The Commission is expected to adopt it end July.