Brussels, 22/10/2008 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 22 October in Strasbourg, MEPs gave their blessing to the launch, from 1 January 2009, of a programme called "Safer Internet plus", which aims to make the internet a safer place for children, with a budget of €55 million. MEPs adopted by a large majority, 672 votes in favour, 9 against and 19 abstentions, the co-decision report by Roberta Angelilli (UEN, Italy), on the proposed decision instituting a Community programme which aims to protect children using the internet and other communication technologies, for the period 2009-2013. This new programme will fund projects to contribute to the achievement of priorities such as public awareness-raising, the fight against illegal content and harmful behaviour on-line, the promotion of a safer internet environment, notably by promoting self-regulation initiatives and establishing a knowledge base on the use of new technology by children and related risks. Basically, the programme proposes the setting in place, in cooperation with on-line service providers, of a common "safe for children" label to be applied to web pages. Those taking part in the " Safer internet plus" programme will be encouraged to develop a system of symbols or warning messages indicating age categories by content. Plans are in place to improve public awareness by setting in place telephone hotlines to report illegal content and harmful on-line behaviour. The MEPs also encourage the conception and development of effective technological tools such as filters, which may then be made available to users. As illegal content can easily be downloaded in one country and viewed in another, the MEPs also hope to facilitate the exchange of information between the member states. In their adoption of Ms Angelilli's report, the MEPs stressed the need to fight electronic harassment and the psychological manipulation of children. The exposure risk of children is high. A recent Eurobarometer study showed that 74% of young people between the ages of 12 and 15 use the internet for at least three hours a day. Nearly 500,000 pornographic images involving children circulate on the internet every year, together with nearly the same number of images of sexual abuse, involving 20,000 children, 500 of whom have been identified over the last seven years. (B.C./trans.fl)