Brussels, 27/03/2009 (Agence Europe) - The meeting of the Transport, Telecoms and Energy Council on transport issues will be held on Tuesday 31 March 2009, chaired by Ivan Langer, Czech Interior Minister. There are few items on the agenda and the ministers will not discuss the telecoms package (the focus of another Council meeting on 11 and 12 June 2009).
In the morning, the Council will adopt a conclusions document on an accessible information society. The draft conclusions document was drawn up on the basis of the European Commission's report of December 2008, “Towards an accessible information society,” which suggests that digital access in general should be improved, and the internet should be made easier to access for people like the elderly and the disabled. The Czech Presidency explains that the EU is lagging behind in terms of its 2010 targets and the presidency wants to encourage the member states to make more effort. The Council will then discuss the impact of the economic slowdown on new information and communication technology (ICT) and how an upturn in ICT is expected to feed back into the economy. This was added to the agenda because of the current crisis and the European Economic Recovery Plan. The Czech Presidency explains that information technology and communications are also suffering from the crisis but it has the ability to provide solutions through speedy development of new technology to get over the present crisis and create jobs. It adds that the new technology industry has been paid particular attention in the European Economic Recovery Plan, which has earmarked €5 billion to help develop high speed internet access in remote regions. Over dinner, ministers will discuss the safety of information and networks. The Czech Presidency explained that the ministers will discuss research developments and measures to be implemented to ensure the industry is secure. (I.L./transl.fl)