Concerning of the European Commission and the European Parliament, these are the following recent developmentst relevant to electronic.
The Radioelectric Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG)
At a meeting on 19th November 2004, the RSPG adopted two Opinions on the radioelectric spectrum secondary trading and on the implications of the switchover to digital television broadcasting.
The Opinion on the spectrum’s secondary market identifies the benefits that could result from the introduction of this secondary trading, but at the same time recommends further analysis based on exchange of experiences and best practices. In addition, this Opinion also considers that certain categories of services (such as non-commercial or public services in the field of terrestrial broadcasting, government services, civil defence services, and scientific research) should be considered carefully or even excluded from the radioelectric spectrum market, at least initially.
In its Opinion on the implications of the switchover to digital television broadcasting, the RSPG emphasises the potential for a “spectrum dividend” created by releasing analogue TV channel frequencies for digital transmission.
The European Parliament Committee on Legal Affairs
On 30th November 2004 the committee analysed a proposed Directive on services within the internal market, after this had first been discussed by the Council of Ministers for Competitiveness on 25th November 2004.
The aim of this proposal involves developing a legal framework which contains no obstacles to service providers’ freedom to establish within Member States. In terms of electronic services, the proposal complements the Directive on electronic commerce in several ways, including access to the market, information requirements and non-discriminatory treatment for recipients of services.
The proposal, however, needs to be reviewed in order to clarify certain derogations and exceptions to the Directive and in terms of its social impact and significance.
Public consultation
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the challenges to policy-making for the European information society beyond 2005, following the adoption of the Communication on the same subject on 19th November, 2004. Contributions may be sent to the Commission by e-mail to infso-eeurope@cec.eu.int until 16th January 2005.
Consult:
- Lisbon Strategy under analysis https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1047069
Further information:
- RSPG - Opinião sobre o mercado secundário do espectro radioeléctrico (em inglês) http://rspg.groups.eu.int/doc/documents/meeting/rspg5/rspg04_54_opinion_second_trading.pdf
- Implicações da transição para a televisão digital (em inglês) http://rspg.groups.eu.int/doc/documents/meeting/rspg5/rspg04_55_opinion_digit_switchover.pdf
- Challenges for Europe?s Information Society beyond 2005: starting point for a new EU strategy http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/2005/all_about/2010_challenges/press_release/index_en.htm