Brussels, 05/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - As reported last week, the telecommunications section o the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council of 8-9 March will focus on the development of the information society in the EU. Issues connected with telecommunications will be discussed in the afternoon of Monday 8 March, chaired by Dermot Ahern, Irish communications, marine and natural resources minister. The ministers are expected to adopt conclusions on the mid-term review of the eEUROPE 2005 Action Plan, the situation facing e-communication in Europe, spam (unsolicited messages for commercial ends) and WISS, the Global Summit on the Information Society.
Mid-term review of eEUROPE 2005. Ministers are expected to adopt the draft conclusions for the Council prepared by the Irish Presidency following the publication of the European Commission's communication on the issue (see EUROPE of 24 February, p. 17). The conclusions assesses progress to date and notes that the Action Plan's objectives are still relevant. It identifies areas requiring specific attention - when the Action Plan is adopted by the Commission ahead of the June European Council - in order to reach targets and adapt to enlargement, namely moving in the direction of a demand-focussed approach focussing on supplying services, their operability and value to the end-user; strengthening the pan-European side of the eEurope initiative; stimulating demand for high speed connections by establishing the necessary criteria for the production of content; making networks and data more secure; taking account of interoperability and multi-platform access in the Action Plan's different domains; boosting work and the numbers of people covered by digital inclusion; and studying the impact of e-services and high speed access in terms of rises in efficiency and productivity. The draft conclusions document also notes that in order to achieve the Action Plan's objectives, it will be necessary at all levels to display strong political will in order to achieve, for example, the productivity gains and job creation expected to result from the Action Plan.
Electronic communications in Europe. Based on the European Commission's communication "Connecting Europe at high speed" (see EUROPE of 4 February, p. 13), the draft conclusions document that the Irish Presidency will be submitting to the Council acknowledges the importance of information technology and communications (ITC) for modern society, both from the economic and the social point of view. It also recognises the major role played by e-communications as a motor of sustainable growth and productivity. In this connection, the document stresses the need to ensure effective transposition of the new regulations governing e-communications, encourage demand for broad band in order to increase deployment and use, and supply ever more attractive and innovative and higher quality services on high speed networks.
Spam. Reacting to the recent Commission communication on unsolicited sales-oriented messages (spam) (see EUROPE of 27 January, p. 11), the Council is expected to adopt conclusions highlighting that further measures will be necessary (self-regulation, awareness raising and technical measures) to stamp out spam and support the EU legislation in force. The Irish Presidency's draft conclusions document (the broad thrust of which has already been approved by all the Member States) foresees, as the Commission desired, that these measures must rely upon effective application of legislation in all the Member States, greater international cooperation, the active involvement of all stakeholders in the market and greater awareness among consumers and citizens. The document also acknowledges that the development of technical solutions will continue to play an important role in combating spam. It urges the European Commission to explore the possibility of financing efforts to combat spam as part of EU programmes (now or in the future).
Global Information Society Summit. Referring to the communication adopted by the European Commission on 17 February (see EUROPE of 21 February, p. 11), the Council will adopt conclusions highlighting the need to establish effective coordination between Member States and the Commission to ensure the EU continues to play a pivotal role in the second phase of the GISS, to be held in Tunis (Tunisia) in November 2005. The Council will invite the Commission, along with Member States, to contribute towards establishing the EU's position, particularly in terms of Internet governance and the financing of 'digital solidarity'.