Brussels, 07/07/2003 (Agence Europe) - Continued implementation of the e-Europe action plan, creation of a European Agency responsible for network security, greater competitiveness of the European industry through the market liberalisation process and preparation of the world summit on the information society. These are broadly the priorities set out by the Italian EU Presidency in the field of telecommunications and the information society. These priorities follow the lines of those set out by the Greek Presidency which ended in June.
e-EUROPE 2005. The Italian Presidency plans to make the process of diffusing new technology move forward by following the indications of the e-EUROPE 2005 action plan, in its various chapters (on-line administration, on-line learning, on-line economic activity, on-line health services, electronic commerce). It will above all place emphasis on its commitment in the strategic on-line administration sector during the conference in Cernobbio (see EUROPE orf 3 July, p.16), devoted to this theme, as well as to its commitment in favour of the promotion and growing use of digital instruments to improve and make radical changes to the relationship between the users of services and the operators, not only in the public sector but also in the private sector. Furthermore, work relating to the IDA III programme for the exchange of digital data between the public administrations will be continued.
Network security. The Italian Presidency will also attempt to have the regulation approved on the creation of a European Agency for network security, which will have the task of defining the best policies and of coordinating actions at European level aimed at preventing and repressing attacks detrimental to the physical structure of IT networks.
New market liberalisation technologies. With a view to strengthening the competitiveness of the European industry at global level, the Presidency plans to deepen the current debate on new technologies such as wide band Internet, 3G mobile phones, digital TV, the new Internet generation and multimedia means. It is in this aim of promotion that the annual conference on ICT will unfold in Milan in October. The Presidency will also encourage the continued process of European market liberalisation in this sector, which still appears fragmented and varied, with a view to ensuring the harmonisation and transparency of regulatory aspects that should contribute to increased growth and competition.
Global Information Society Summit. In the wake of the Greek Presidency, the Italian Presidency will seek to define an EU stance with a view to the Summit to be held in December in Geneva.