Brussels, 01/06/2005 (Agence Europe) - Viviane Reding, the Commissioner responsible for Information Society and Media, has urged the European Union to respond to the economic challenges arising from the explosion of information and communication technology (ICT) in recent years. The European Commission has recently adopted initiative “i2010: European Information Society 2010”, to foster growth and jobs in the information society and media industries. i2010 is a comprehensive strategy for modernising and deploying all EU policy instruments to encourage the development of the digital economy, explained the Commissioner to reporters on 1 June. In its i2010 initiative, the Commission outlines three policy priorities:
to create an open and competitive single market for information society and media services within the EU. To support technological convergence with “policy convergence”, the Commission will propose: an efficient spectrum management policy in Europe (2005); a modernisation of the rules on audiovisual media services (end 2005); an updating of the regulatory framework for electronic communications (2006); a strategy for a secure information society (2006); and a comprehensive approach for effective and interoperable digital rights management (2006/2007).
to increase EU investment in research on information and communication technologies (ICT) by 80%. Europe lags behind in ICT research, investing only €80 per head as compared to €350 in Japan and €400 in the US. i2010 identifies steps to put more into ICT research and get more out of it, e.g. by trans-European demonstrator projects to test out promising research results and by integrating small and medium sized enterprises better in EU research projects
to promote an inclusive European information society. To close the gap between the information society “haves and have nots”, the Commission will propose: an Action Plan on e-Government for citizen-centred services (2006); three “quality of life” ICT flagship initiatives (technologies for an ageing society, intelligent vehicles that are smarter, safer and cleaner, and digital libraries making multimedia and multilingual European culture available to all (2007).
ICT accounts for 40% of Europe's productivity growth and for 25% of EU GDP growth, notes the European Commission. Viviane Reding commented that: 'to enhance investment in this promising sector of the economy, we must provide a coherent regulatory framework for Europe's digital economy that is market-oriented, flexible and future-proof.' (Further information on i2010 can be found at: http: //europa.eu.int/i2010)
Telecoms operators welcome i2010
In a press release, the European Telecommunications Network Operators' Network ETNO, the voice of European telecommunications network operators, welcomed the adoption of the Commission initiative i2010 designed to provide a new policy framework for the e-communications sector. 'ETNO members fully support the broad objectives of this initiative, aimed at providing a new impetus to enable society as a whole to benefit from digital convergence. This will allow the ICT sector to continue to drive Europe's productivity and sustainable growth,' said Michael Bartholomew, ETNO Director.