Brussels, 09/06/2006 (Agence Europe) - Ministers with responsibility for telecommunications closed Thursday evening's session with an exchange of views on the security of networks and information. They spoke of the priorities for the near future and action to be taken at European level. The security of the networks and information is a challenge for all, given the rapid development in technology, a challenge which has to be addressed in order to guarantee companies and individuals confidentiality in their operations. “Trust” and “awareness” were the key words to come out of the debate. The Council stressed the need for a European approach based on a culture of network and information security, a key pre-condition for the creation of a single European information area. OECD guidelines were considered as a useful model for drawing up strategies at European level. The Austrian Presidency insisted that it would be better to develop and implement an overall approach and a strengthened work programme, based on dialogue, partnership and autonomy. Confidence and security in a rapidly changing technical environment will be among the points for discussion at the annual conference of the European Information Society, to be organised by the Finnish Presidency in September. In December, the Council is expected to adopt a resolution in which future policy guidelines, priorities and instruments proposed for meeting all the challenges will be set out.