The 2987th Council meeting of the Ministers of Transport, Telecommunications and Energy of the European Union (EU) took place on 17-18 December 2009 in Brussels (Belgium). Of note from the meeting was the adoption of conclusions on the future of the i2010 strategy and on the digital dividend, in addition to general agreement on a draft Regulation amending the 2004 Regulation on the management structures of the navigation satellite programme which gave rise to the Galileo system.
Regarding the debate on the future of the i2010 strategy, which has the aim of giving guidance to the Commission in the formulation of a new European digital agenda, due to presented in spring 2010, the conclusions adopted by the Council underline inter alia:
- the importance of fostering the open, decentralised and dynamic nature of the Internet, promoting its further expansion;
- the importance of developing electronic identification arrangements that guarantee data protection and respect citizens' privacy;
- accessibility for everyone is key to achieving an inclusive, empowering, knowledge-based society.
With respect to the digital dividend, highlighting the fact that radio spectrum is a scarce resource that needs to be used efficiently, the adopted conclusions stress the importance of the digital dividend in helping to provide high-speed broadband services in rural areas and invite the member states to contribute to the development of a common EU approach towards spectrum coordination issues with third countries.
In terms of regulation, and pending the European Parliament's position at first reading (expected in early 2010), the objective is to transform the European Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Supervisory Authority, established by Regulation (EC) No 1321/2004), into the European GNSS agency, in line with the rules adopted in 2008 for the governance and financing of the European satellite navigation programmes. This has the effect of transferring the management of Galileo to the European Commission (EC) and the ownership of all Galileo assets to the European Union (EU).
In the session, the Council also adopted a resolution on a collaborative European approach on network and information security, in response to a communication on this subject from the Commission. It also examined the progress of work on a proposed directive on the development of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS).
Further information:
- 2987th Council meeting - Transport, Telecommunications and Energy (Press release) http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/trans/111996.pdf
- Council Conclusions on ''Post i-2010 Strategy - towards an open, green and competitive knowledge society'' http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/trans/111999.pdf
- Council Conclusions on transforming the digital dividend into social benefits and economic growth http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/trans/112001.pdf
- Council Resolution on collaborative European approach on Network and Information Security - Adoption http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/09/st15/st15841.en09.pdf
