Brussels, 30/09/2004 (Agence Europe) - It was with a certain effortlessness that the Luxembourg Commissioner designate Viviane Reding answered the questions of MEPs from the committees on industry and culture which heard her on the "information society and media" portfolio, which she will take charge of within the Barroso Commission. Warmly applauded after a short introduction in which she reiterated the outlines of the actions she intends to take (for her responses to the MEPs' questionnaire, see EUROPE of 28 September, page 13), Ms Reding answered the MEPs' questions faultlessly. On the information society, the questions focused mainly on the future of information and communication technology (ICT), bridging the digital divide, the patentability of software and the interoperability of the various existing technological platforms to develop digital. As for the audiovisual sector, "a privileged vector for the distribution of cultural identity", Viviane Reding stressed that new technologies would permit the broader distribution of works and thus touch a wider public. The Commissioner also raised the problem of media pluralism, for which there is "neither an easy solution, nor a global solution". Lastly, on the "Television Without Borders" directive and its revision, Viviane Reding spoke of "an approach for better structuring, a more sectorial approach". "I want a Europe which leads from the front, by boosting competitiveness, a Europe which ensures the citizens' well-being and dares to be itself, to be what it is", she said.
Information society. After her introduction, in which she mainly pleaded in favour of the reduction of the digital divide, socially as well as territorially, and thereby also in terms of "e-accessibility", Viviane Reding told Paul Rübig (EPP-ED, Austria) of the need to promote "digital confidence" both for citizens and SMEs by guaranteeing that they can use ICT perfectly safely, especially for transactions and on-line payments. On this, she said that she would ensure that the needs of research in the field of ICT remained covered, notably by the seventh framework programme. On ICT's contribution to competitiveness, she said that this would be one of the two components of the initiative e-EUROPE 2010 (alongside the "societal" component of creating an information society open to all), which she intends to present early next year. She also emphasised the integral and effective implementation of the new regulatory framework on electronic communications in the 25 Member States. An assessment of the framework and its adaptation to social, economic and technological evolutions is planned for 2006, she said, adding that the directive on universal services would be re-examined as soon as 2005. Viviane Reding also stated that ICT could help the EU to face the challenge of the ageing population. In e-EUROPE 2010, the reluctance of older people to use new technology would be taken into account, and "simplified elements" will be brought in, enabling professional carers to be freed up from certain tasks to allow them to focus more on human relations with patients. Returning to the implementation of the regulatory framework, Ms Reding said that the new Member States should not be allowed too much time to apply the acquis, as experience with the EU of 15 had shown that the Member States which applied the framework the quickest gained in competitiveness.
When asked about the digital divide by Catherine Trautmann (PES, France), Viviane Reding said that the education ministers of the Member States should help to combat it, and stressed the importance of the use of structural funds to this end. To Lorenzo Cesa (EPP-ED, Italy), who voiced concern at the existence of 25 strategies to promote broadband in the EU, Viviane Reding acknowledged that the Commission could only act as "facilitator of rules which should be as co-ordinated as possible". On obstacles to the use of "free software", the Commissioner assured David Hammerstein Mintz (Greens/EFA, Spain) and Adam Gierek (PES, Poland) that they made up 30% of existing software, giving the example that "the European Commission uses Linux as well as Microsoft", just as the city of Munich has just gone over from Windows to Linux and Andalucia has just opted for free software for all public applications. She responded to Mr Hammerstein Mintz's concerns that the patentability of software could damage innovation by stating that she was following in the footsteps of her predecessor Olli Rehn, the open-mindedness which was concretised on this issue within various think tanks. A conference on the subject will be organised by the Commission in November, she said, adding that this event would be followed by a Commission document based on its conclusions. "We will have to work hand in hand with industry, but also with the users", she said, adding that the challenge was protecting copyright and ensuring increased freedom.
"Perhaps the solution lies between the two", she remarked.
Asked by Pia Elda Locatelli (PES, Italy) on the possible need to impose standards of inter-operability for the different platforms providing digital services, the Commission pointed out that the Commission's policy would be to ensure technological neutrality. Given the specificity of products, she explained that the public sector was hesitant about imposing standards that could "freeze developments…that's why we prefer openness and persuasions when working with industry". Pointing out that there were around 5000 standards in the area of telecoms, Viviane Reding came out in favour of the approach to elaborate guidelines on collaboration between Member States and the NATIONAL Regulation Authorities (NRA) to ensure inter-operability of systems. She also highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation in work to make standards more harmonised. In a reply to Pilar del Castillo Vera (EPP-ED, Spain), the Commissioner recognised the major possibilities provided by VOIP in terms of competitiveness, user services and cost reduction. Given that there are no licenses for these services but rules and a general authorisation system, Ms Reding indicated that "We prefer as softly-softly approach" but that if the voluntary approach did not work, "we will get to a harmonisation of VOIP using the NRA in all Member States".
Audio-visual. Several MEPs (Finnish socialist Reino Paasilinna, the German Green Rebecca Harms, Italian member of the ALDE group Giulietto Chiesa, highlighted the problem of media plurality. Ms Reding underlined the fact that problems varied from one Member State to another and there was no legal basis for resolving this problem at a European level (except for competition) and that the European Union did not have competency for settling Trans-border problems. She proposed that she act as observer and bring together as much information on the situation in the Member States as possible before she discussed it next year. In a reply to John Purvis (EPP-ED, Britain), she recognised the need for public television but underlined the necessity of private television developing. She pointed out that the Commission communication on State Aid and public services, to avoid the sector abusing subsidies that it received from the state by using them for commercial ends.
The president of the "culture and education" committee, Greek socialist Nikolaos Sifunakis highlighted cultural aspects of the audio-visual sector (pointing out that several specialist associations were very concerned that audio-visual policy was now separate from culture in the distribution of Commission portfolios). Ms Reding replied firmly that in her former portfolio she had fought for cultural diversity and that this was not going to change. She said that she did not support "containing" over "content". Manolis Mavromatis (EPP-ED, Greece) related audio-visual policy to protecting young people. "It's a major worry" agreed Reding, who explained that the directive only imposed minimal restrictions on Member States who were doing what they wanted with the directive. According to the Commissioner it was above all necessary to educate the youth and make them responsible so that they adopted a critical approach to what the media proposed ("image education"), rather than introducing a ban.