The European Union (EU) Council of Ministers for Transport, Telecommunications and Energy, which is being presided over by Portugal, began yesterday in Brussels and was held until 3 December 2007. The Council has already resulted in decisions in the area of communications, including on mobile television, info-inclusion and satellite navigation systems.
The Council took note of recent proposals from the European Commission on the review of the regulatory framework of electronic communications, agreeing with the respective objectives. However, it noted that Member States have reservations about the proposal to establish the European Electronic Communications Market Authority (EECMA), a new European agency to act as ''European regulator'', which could also come to include the current European Network and Information Security Agency (ENISA).
As far as mobile TV is concerned, and with basis in the Commission's Communication of 18 July 2007 on the strategy for strengthening the internal market for mobile TV, the Council emphasised that Digital Video Broadcasting-Handheld (DVB-H) is the most appropriate standard for the development of Mobile TV in the EU, taking note of its respective inclusion in the list of European standards.
To date DVB-H has been commercially launched in Italy and Finland, with trials in Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, France, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, it is recalled that, as part of Portuguese presidency of EU Council, ANACOM organised a workshop on Mobile TV, held on 09 July.
The Council also adopted an agreement in principle on the proposed directive which revokes the GSM Directive (87/372/EE) and took note of the progress report on the proposed Decision on the selection and authorisation of systems which offer satellite mobile services.
Regarding info-inclusion, the Commission presented the Communication ''European i2010 initiative on e-Inclusion -To be part of the information society'' of 8 November 2007, which sets out a range of measures that would raise society awareness about issues of info-accessibility and head off the risk of marginalising citizens in respect of information and communication technologies (ICT). In the meantime the Commission intends to launch a campaign in 2008, ''e-Inclusion, be part of it!'' culminating in a Ministerial Conference to demonstrate real progress and to reinforce commitments at all levels.
The Council reiterated the importance of Europe's satellite navigation programmes, EGNOS and Galileo, as key projects for the EU and supports the deployment by 2013 of a European satellite navigation system which will encompass five services: Open Service, Safety of Life Service, Commercial Service, Public Regulated Service, Search and Rescue Service. The Council also reaffirmed aspects associated with EGNOS and Galileo, such as the processes of policy decision and supervision, management and administration and property. The Council also invited the Commission to promote studies and analysis on the commercial and operational phases of these programmes by the end of 2008, forming the basis for any necessary proposal for action.
Consult:
- Conclusions https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=250842
Further information:
- Communication from the Commission COM (2007) 409 final, of 18.7.2007 http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/site/en/com/2007/com2007_0409en01.pdf
- Communication from the Commission COM(2007) 694 final, of 8.11.2007 http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/einclusion/docs/i2010_initiative/comm_native_com_2007_0694_f_en_acte.pdf
- Council Conclusions on launching the European Global Navigation Satellite System Programmes http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/trans/97344.pdf
- Commission strategy for Mobile TV in Europe endorsed by Member States http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1815&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Commission calls for an all-inclusive digital society http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1804&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- European initiative on an all-inclusive digital society: Frequently Asked Questions http://www.europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/07/527&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
- Press:Council Conclusions - Strengthening the Internal Market for Mobile TV http://www.eu2007.pt/NR/rdonlyres/1DC4BE7F-C4E2-4D86-9524-FBB477A7E933/0/97315.pdf
- Conclusões do Conselho - versão provisória (em inglês) http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/trans/97330.pdf